Chinese Marriage Migration in Singapore

Abstract

This thesis investigates the phenomenon of Chinese marriage migration from the perspective of women from the People?s Republic of China (PRC) married to Singaporean Chinese men. Applying the feminist slogan ?the personal is political?, I analyze China brides? negotiations of power and control in various aspects of their daily lives, including the marriage migration process, dealing with their husbands and kin, participation in the labor force, and the relationship with the state. I argue that the way China brides negotiate and the result of their struggles are linked to the volume of capital (various forms of capital including economic, social and cultural capital) they possess. As China brides? specific circumstances and experiences demonstrate, Chinese marriage migration is a complex transnational issue, and the general discourse of China brides and media representation is biased and unjust. To illustrate, ?China bride? carries a strong stigma in Singapore, they are depicted as ?Little Dragon Ladies? (gold-diggers) and ?crow? (sex workers). While China brides? lived experiences often contradict this unjust and negative stereotype. As individual agents who rely on their resources to negotiate their place in society, their struggles are not merely for personal gain but aim for the betterment of their broader social network, especially their nuclear, affinal and natal families.