Bee 1
Life’s Worth Since the dawn of humanity, people have been aging. This infamous process of slowly dying is also the development of the mind, body, and spirit. Everything people do in his or her life influences the way one ages, and therefore every routine, habit, and lifestyle choice greatly impacts when and how a person dies. But this slow rising action to the final climax of life is not only shaped by personal lifestyle choice, it is also molded by the culture to which each individual belongs. Unfortunately, becoming older has turned into a cultural economic issue. Living without income and relying on another source for financial security can be a burden in all parts of the world. The specific treatment of the subject can greatly impact the later end of one’s life, and influence a person’s final moments. The culture of aging has shifted from a sentimental time to one highly revolved around financial issues and economic burden, and has dehumanized this sensitive process. In China, one of the world’s oldest populations, aging and dying is no new process. However, research shows that there are many issues with an ever-growing amount of elderly citizens. The implement of the One-Child Policy has caused many of these problems that families deal with every day. After many years of limiting offspring, the 4-2-1 family structure (four grandparents, two parents, and one child) is the typical situation in China. This results in a “top-heavy pyramid in which the working population of the one-child generation will have to work harder to provide financial support and physical care” for theirs and their spouse’s parents (Zhan). In fact, it is required by the Chinese government and Confucian tradition, xiao, “which requires adult children to care for their elderly parents” (Zhan). Combining the upside-down