'Women can live up to 100 years if they bear 10 kids': Chinese professor's claim sparks public backlash

An anonymous Chinese professor's claim that 'women can live up to 100 years if they bear 10 kids' has landed him in hot water.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post which quoted another Chinese publication, a video of the professor making the comment went viral on social media in December 2024.

While talking to his students in a classroom, the professor said, "After giving birth to a child, you will be blessed by God. It will let you live longer."

According to SCMP, the professor said, "Some women are successful in their career, but their longevity is short. They are unlike those grandmas in villages who have eight, or ten kids, and usually can live up to 90 or even 100 years old."

"Those grandmas generally do not have any major diseases. There is a low possibility of them getting sick," he added.

According to the publication's report, it is said that the professor had also worked as a doctor at a hospital and was earning about 3,00,000 yuan a year.

This has evoked public backlash on social media with netizens condemning the professor's comment.

A social media user said, "Do you have scientific evidence to support your point of view?"

Another user expressing anger said, "Don’t you know there is a risk for a woman giving birth. Are those women who die during labour blessed by God?"

The user further added, "Are they mad pushing us to have kids? The cost of raising children is so high and it is tiring for a parent to educate a kid. Anyway, I have one child now and I will not have more, whatever the experts or the government says."

For the first time in 60 years, with a low birth rate of 6.39 births per 1,000 people, China's population has decreased in 2022 and 2023.