Book spotlights challenges for 'leftover women'

One unexpected consequence of China's family planning policy has been the emergence of women who had access to education, resources and opportunities that previous generations could only dream of, according to author Roseann Lake, who has written a book detailing the choices and challenges these women face.

Lake said the policy, which was introduced in 1979 and significantly relaxed in 2016, meant most couples only had a single child, something that initially led couples to try to ensure their sole child would be a son, which resulted in a gender imbalance.

The policy also led to couples treating daughters in the way traditional families had previously treated boys alone - pushing them hard to study, excel in college and succeed in their careers, she added.