(Ecns.cn)--On the night of September 6th, at the gate of a residential community in Beijing, a couple was brutally beaten by the driver of a wild-running BMW who was later confirmed to be the son of a well-known military singer.
The 15-year-old troublemaker was held in custody on the second day, following which, his 74-year-old famous father shed tears in a TV show, blaming himself for not being able to discipline his spoiled son.
The incident drew immediate attention to the controversial issue of family education for the new generations who grew up under the one-child policy, especially under the upward trend in which more and more Chinese couples opt for late childbirth！a rarely seen social phenomenon in the past.
Older mothers
As one of the results of modernity and the sped up daily work pace, couples, especially those in urban areas, wait longer until they decide to have babies.
It was revealed in a recent survey covering eight major cities in China that the average childbearing age of women is 27.4, 2.1 years older than in previous years. For those who postpone plans for having children, having a sound economic background, including owning a house, is the main reason for the decision. In the first-tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, as well as Guangzhou, a monthly household income of 8,087 yuan ($1,268) is the bottom-line young couples believe they need to start to think about raising a child. The number drops to 5,169 yuan ($810) in second-tier cities like Wuhan and Kunming.
Among the polled population, 78.9% of female professionals would not consider conceiving a child until 29 years of age. The statistics completed in the three first-tier cities in the country also indicate that the average childbearing age has reached 33 years old while the average age of marriage is sitting at 30 years of age. Women of higher education and income tend to get married and have children at older ages, according to a survey conducted by Horizon Company, one of the leading consulting companies in the industry.
Quite a few double income, no kids (DINK) couples changed their minds about having children at older ages, said the Beijing Daily. This can be taken as one of the causes of the boom in motherhood among women 30 or older. 48% of women expecting babies this year have reached their advanced maternal age.
