Gender and Change in Hong Kong

The 1980s and 1990s represent a critical historical juncture forHong Kong, as it underwent important social, political, and economictransformations. This period of transition, during which the stateworked to redefine itself, significantly altered the role and status ofHong Kong women. Colonial modernity, which arose through theintegration of the colonial state, the capitalist economy, and the HongKong Chinese society, proved favourable for some women but also hadadverse consequences for others. It constructed women of differentclass interests and shaped the gendered citizenship of its colonialsubjects.

Gender and Change in Hong Kong analyzes women’schanging identities and agencies amidst the complex interaction ofthree important forces, namely, globalization, postcolonialism, andChinese patriarchy. The chapters examine the issues from a number ofperspectives to consider legal changes, political participation, thesituation of working-class and professional women, sexuality, religion,and international migration.

This incisive volume offers sophisticated theoretical discussionsand original empirical findings, and will appeal to a wide range ofscholars and students in gender and women’s studies,postcolonialism, globalization, and Asian studies.