性别与移民:新加坡中国新移民之研究 = Gender and migration: A study of Chinese new migrants in Singapore

Abstract

Since 1990, a large number of Chinese new migrants (many of whom are females) have settled down in Singapore. However, migration theories have not paid adequate attention to the significance of gender in this migration flow; and female migrants have often been relegated to the role of a??trailing spousesa?? and are generally invisible in the scholarly analysis. This thesis attempts to link gender and migration by studying the experiences of Chinese new migrants in Singapore. The first part of the thesis focuses on the private sphere (marriage and family) and argues that women are active agents participating in the process of migration. It also challenges the conventional argument that women from developing countries choose international marriages purely for economic motivation. The second part focuses on the public sphere (the society) and examines the tensions (and gradual improvements) between Chinese (female) new migrants and the Singapore society at large. Despite facing many difficulties and limitations, Chinese women have played an active role in the local labour market. The third part focuses on the role of the nation-state in the evolution of engendered migration. In addition to discussing the revival of overseas Chinese nationalism at the turn of the new century, this thesis gives special attention to the gender differences in the making of political and cultural identities.