1) For two decades, the Chinese government tried to control population by limiting most rural families to one child. (2) Because boys are prized in rural areas—they can work the land and give more support to their families—many couples aborted female fetuses, killed newborn daughters, or neglected them to death. (3) , China in 2002 was short 50 million females. (4) With so few brides to go around, desperate bachelors have taken to marrying relatives.