Secrets and Siblings

Thirty-two years ago Mrs Li and Mr Wufrom Zhejiang abandoned their second baby daughter at a marketplace. Mrs WangMaochen from Beijing has seven children, but six of them are illegal so they couldnot go to university, could not take a job, go to the doctor, or marry, or evenbuy a train ticket. Zhao Min from Guangzhou first learned about theconcept of a sibling at university, in her town there were no sisters orbrothers.

With the Chinese government now adaptingto a two child policy, Secrets and Siblings outlines the scaleof its tragic consequences, showing how Chinese family and society has beenforever changed. In doing so it also challenges many of our misconceptionsabout family life in China, arguing that it is the state, rather than popularprejudice, that has hindered the adoption of girls within China.

At once brutal and beautifullyhopeful, Secrets and Siblings asks what the state and itschildren will do now that they are becoming adults.