DINC Family

Double Income and No Children (DINC) becomes fashionable in China. The DINC couples are usually regarded as those who have higher educations and stable careers with higher incomes. The increase in DINC families has shattered the Chinese traditional idea of the family and may become typical.

A survey conducted recently in Beijing by a market survey company indicated that about 3.3 percent of the 1300 surveyed families in Beijing said they have no plans to have children. It is estimated there are about 600,000 DINC families in large cities like Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chongqing.

Why they choose such a lifestyle is concluded in various reasons. Some are showing great worry for the rapid growth of population; some are indulged in building a more well-off family; some are showing sharp intention to get themselves free from the obligation of raising children.

However, as an old Chinese saying puts it: There are three aspects in failing to be a filial son. The most serious one is to have no heir for the family. So most people still believe it is necessary to bear a child to keep the family line on. Childless couples will suffer discrimination from family members and neighbors. But nowadays with the spread of diverse lifestyles, more and more people say they can understand those who choose to have no child. And the DNICs agree that the benefits of remaining childless far outweigh the negative aspects. They feel it is better to do things on a whim, such as go out to dinner to a fancy restaurant, take a vacation or have an exiting night without having to worry about what to do with the child.

It is clear that the new tide of ideas has come, which suggests young people want to choose their own way of life. They are instilling modern ideas into traditional families and society. In the modernization process, personal choices will be highly respected.