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Cheng,n‐ Nia tzu (2012) The becoming of immigrants from outsiders to in‐betweens: the national identity of immigrant women in Taiwan. PhD Thesis. SOAS, University of London http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/14246 Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non‐commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination. The Becoming of Immigrants from Outsiders to In-Betweens: The National Identity of Immigrant Women in Taiwan by Nian-tzu Cheng Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD in Political Science August 2012 Department of Politics and International Studies School of Oriental and African Studies University of London Declaration for PhD Thesis DECLARATION FOR PHD THESIS I have read and understood regulation 17.9 of the Regulations for students of the School of Oriental and African Studies concerning plagiarism. I undertake that all the material presented for examination is my own work and has not been written for me, in whole or in part, by any other person. I also undertake that any quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of another person has been duly acknowledged in the work which I present for examination. Signed: ____________________________ Date: _________________ ii Abstract ABSTRACT This thesis aims to explore the shift of national identity of marriage immigrant women in Taiwan. With regards to the citizenship legislation being used as the state’s integration scheme, it aims to answer the following questions: how is the citizenship legislation shaped to integrate immigrant women? How do immigrant women react to the legislation? How does this interaction affect their national identity? Taking a temporal perspective and viewing their transition to mothers and citizens as their rite of passage, this thesis argues that immigrant women from China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia develop an in-between identity towards Taiwan and their country of origin. The in-betweenness is brought about by their perception of the citizenship legislation, their adoption of the Chinese language, and their fulfilment of motherhood duties. Along the rite of passage, immigrant women experience the in-betweenness whilst simultaneously playing the roles of daughter, mother and citizen. In these roles, they experience the infusion and tension of the two senses of belonging. On the other hand, their self-identification with Taiwan is contested by the host society and the contestation reinforces the in-betweenness. The contestation results from the categorisations of Chinese, Southeast Asian and Overseas Chinese from Indonesia by the host society. Incorporated into the citizenship legislation, these categorisations are integral to the nation-building project. They are instrumental to consolidate the proclaimed statehood of Taiwan and to safeguard its self-identity as that of a multicultural nation that upholds democracy, prosperity and human rights protection. Being differently affected by the three variables, immigrant women follow different paths to the in-betweenness. Whilst democracy and prosperity are positive inducements for generating identification, the discourses of multiculturalism and human rights iii Abstract protection are insufficient for integrating the immigrant outsiders. This inadequacy may be a driving force for the political participation of immigrant-turned citizens. These findings enrich the understanding of the relationship between women and the state, and facilitate an ‘outside-in’ perspective with which to examine the conduct and impact of the Taiwan’s nation-building. iv Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION FOR PHD THESIS .............................................................................. ii ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... xi Note on Romanisation of Chinese Sources ..................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION: MARRIAGE IMMIGRANT WOMEN’S SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL JOURNEY ....................................................................... 1 1.1 Why this topic? ........................................................................................................ 2 1.2 Research Questions and Core Arguments ............................................................... 5 1.3 Definition, Framework of Analysis, and Research Methods ............................. 7 1.4 Structure of the Thesis ...................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER 2: THE NATIONAL IDENTITY OF MARRIAGE IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN TAIWAN: THE UNKNOWN ................................................................... 14 2.1 Research Questions .......................................................................................... 15 2.2 Literature Review ............................................................................................. 18 2.2.1 Migration as a Process .............................................................................. 18 2.2.2 National Identity: Chinese and Southeast Asian Women in Taiwan ........ 20 2.2.3 Multiple Roles and Family Relationships: Relational Nationality ........... 27 2.3 Variables and Framework of Analysis ............................................................. 35 2.3.1 Framework of Analysis ............................................................................. 35 2.3.2 Three Clusters of Interactive Variables..................................................... 47 2.4 Research Methods and Fieldwork .................................................................... 53 v Table of Contents 2.4.1 Categorising Marriage Immigrant Women ............................................... 54 2.4.2 Fieldwork: Semi-Structured Interviews, Participant Observations ........... 55 2.5 Summary .......................................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER 3: WOMEN WHO MIGRATE TO MARRY AND SETTLE: THE ARRIVAL OF CHINESE, SOUTHEAST ASIAN AND OVERSEAS CHINESE WIVES ........................................................................................................... 63 3.1 Marrying Someone from Afar: Marriage Immigrant Women from China and Southeast Asia ............................................................................................................. 64 3.1.1 Earlier Waves: ‘Unknown’ Overseas Chinese from Indonesia ................ 64 3.1.2 Second Wave: Tying the Knot across the Taiwan Strait........................... 65 3.1.3 Third Wave: Where There Is Investment, There Is Marriage (And Brokering Opportunities) ......................................................................................... 67 3.1.4 Feminised Marriage Immigration ............................................................. 69 3.2 Immigration and Nation-Building .................................................................... 73 3.3 The Chinese Category – the Political Enemy within ....................................... 77 3.3.1 A Legal Boundary ..................................................................................... 77 3.3.2 A Political Boundary ................................................................................. 81 3.3.3 Personifying a Hostile China .................................................................... 84 3.4 The Southeast Asian Category- The Ethnic Inferior Other .............................. 90 3.4.1 A Gender and Class Boundary .................................................................. 90 3.4.2 Undesired Members of the National Community ..................................... 94 3.5 The Overseas Chinese Category: From Overseas Nationals to External Population .................................................................................................................... 97 3.5.1 Nationalistic Nationals Sojourning Abroad: Before 1991 ........................ 98 vi Table of Contents 3.5.2 External Population: After 1991 ............................................................. 103 3.6 Summary ........................................................................................................ 108 CHAPTER 4: DISCIPLINE UNDESIRED IMMIGRANTS TO ACCEPTABLE CITIZENS: THE GENDERED CITIZENSHIP LEGISLATION AND NATION-BUILDING ................................................................................................... 111 4.1 Gate Crossing: From an Outsider to a Citizen................................................ 112 4.2 The Legislation for Southeast Asian Immigrants ........................................... 113 4.3 The Legislation for Chinese Immigrants ........................................................ 127 4.4 The Legislation for Overseas Chinese Immigrants .......................................