Ng, Fung Sheung Isabella (2015) Is there still a Gender Divide? Indigenous Women in Hong Kong since the Legitimization of Female Land Inheritance during the Post- Colonial Era. PhD Thesis. SOAS, University of London http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/22833 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. Is there still a Gender Divide? Indigenous Women in Hong Kong since the Legitimization of Female Land Inheritance during the Post-Colonial Era Fung Sheung Isabella Ng Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD in Gender Studies 2015 Centre for Gender Studies School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 1 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 I also undertake that any quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of another person has been duly acknowledged in the work which I present for examination.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: _________________ 2 Advisor: Rachel V. Harrison Isabella Ng Is there still a Gender Divide? A study of indigenous women in Hong Kong since the legitimization of female Land inheritance during the post-colonial era The study explores the situation of women in the indigenous villages in Hong Kong during the post-colonial era, with particular reference to the walled villages in the New Territories. I look at how the legitimization of women inheritance right has an effect on gender dynamics since the ruling. The research is the first detailed ethnographic study that takes on an important Issue about how the indigenous women status and gender dynamics have evolved in the post-colonial Hong Kong, an understudied topic by contemporary scholarship. It makes a valuable contribution to the study of rural women in conditions of post-colonial transformation and to Hong Kong studies. The thesis is a comparative study of two walled villages based on a 24 –month of archival research and fieldwork between 2008 and December 2011. Through chapters that provide analyses of the women inheritance women movement, the political and socio-economic transformation in Hong Kong. I elucidate the indigenous women’s struggles that result from their intersectional position in the Hong Kong context. This context includes the long standing patriarchal dominance of the walled villages; a colonial history that promotes patriarchy in contradiction to the legal institution that legalizes women’s right to inherit and government policy that obstructs indigenous women from exercising their full rights. The findings demonstrate that change in the inheritance law serves as an important statutory rather than an active agent in promoting changes in gender relations in the walled village. Rapid urbanization and commoditization of the walled villages and wider 3 opportunities for walled village women in education, jobs are important factors that led to a shift in gender dynamics within the two villages. Difference in gender relations are salient across generations in both villages. In the walled villages, women, whether they are indigenous inhabitants or not, are both the products of political and socio-economic transformation within the greater Hong Kong context and the agents that induce changes to the walled villages since the legitimization of women inheritance rights in 1994. 4 Acknowledgements I would like to sincerely thank the many people who have helped and supported me in different ways to complete this thesis. The work has proven a comfort as well as a challenge for me in the past years. Dr. Rachel, my supervisor, my mentor, to whom I own eternal gratitude, has given me professional advice as well as solace and comfort in times of personal tribulation. She looked after me on my writing and structure. She has read everything with great care and her comments are invaluable in making the thesis as it is now. She even did the final copyediting for me before my submission. She took the pains to read through my other papers and even my publications for journals. She took me into her house when I needed a place in London. She showed me what an academic par excellence should be: intelligent but human, funny, caring and humble. Like Rachel, Dr. Kevin Latham is no less crucial in supporting and guiding me in every single way during the course of my research as well as writing up the entire thesis. As my co-supervisor, he emerged as a critical figure in leading me to see different perspectives. He spent hours on every single meeting to make sure I understood his points. He encouraged me when I was feeling uncertain and nervous, gave me constructive criticism, opened me up to different perspectives in looking at an issue and putting me in a priority no less than his own supervisees. His dedication and his care during the course of my study have give me strength and security in conducting my fieldwork. His passion towards his research and my research has inspired me and motivated me to work hard and to genuinely love ethnography. I have lots to thank him dearly. 5 Professor Nadje Al-Ali, to whom I have her for her kind and invaluable advice on my core chapter. Her comments are important in shaping the theoretical framework of my thesis. And the Centre for Gender Studies for their support during my tough times. Dr. Cheung Siu-keung, to whom I am heavily indebted for giing me advice on Bourdieu and the angle of my thesis. Many people who have provided me with support and invaluable help during my research: the villagers in Wang Toi Shan and Shan village. Mr. Tang Kwai-yau and his secretary May Chan have facilitated my research by introducing me to a lot of important people and the villagers. He also let me have access to some of the documents of the village that are crucial in understanding the village. Kay Tang and his family, Ricky Tang and his mum Joly Wong and Anita Tang. The village chiefs, Heung Gu and her daughters and others who would love to remain anonymous. As For Shan Ha village, I have to thank Fong Yuk-mei and her husband; also Uncle Ming for taking me to the villages, telling me the stories, showing me the lineage, Encouraging and letting me be part of all the celebrations and the village life. Uncle Bo, village chiefs Cheung Hung-fun, Cheung Sui-cheung and Cheung Chi-ming. I Have also met great people like Mary Wong and her sister-in-law and others who would love to remain anonymous. Also people from the Yuen Long women association and the five women fighters who kindly told me their stories while some of them were still struggling with their lives. Christine Loh, who generously shared her views and let me her tapes to see the whole movement. Linda Wong and Liu Ngan-fung who took the time out of their busy schedules to give me updates and invaluable insights on the development of the women’s movement. 6 My friends and family have helped sustained me emotionally during my study. Ken and Karen who actually worked with me at the initial stage when we went into the village to explore. Without them, I did not think I could not easily open up conversation with the people. Other friends who gave me enormous support were: Ivy Chan, Lillian Choy, May Chan, Ella Lee, Vivian Lee and Catherine Wong who looked after me whenever I was in London. Friends from the university who were eager to jump to help as well providing lots of entertainment for me: Maura Woo and Maria Cheung, Amy Chow, Winnie Wun and Fanny Yuen. I also have to thank my bosses, colleagues and friends in CCCU and HKIED who facilitated my study. I have to specially thank P.Y. Wong, Fanny Liu, Lillian Wong Chan and my dear friend Alex Chan Lih-shing, Mario Liong and Indie Chung for their encouragement. My colleagues and bosses in HKIED: Professor Joshua Ka-ho Mok, Professor Joanne Chung, Professor Darryl Jarvis, Professor Chou Keelee who have been extremely supportive and understanding during the rough time. My students Kay Tang, Rita Yeung, Chan Kaki, Wong Hoi Shan, Anna Wong, Mavis Wu, and Natalie Leung for their help on downsizing the photos and other technical support in which I am hopeless, Eric Lui who fixed a map for me when I was desperate. My family: my eldest sister, who supported me by taking care of the household chores and listening to my countless complaints about nothing and yelling for nothing; my brothers who looked after my flat in Hong Kong while I was away. My sister and her family in Australia again spending hours chatting with me and my niece Donna, her husband Michael and their son Daniel, who were great comfort when I was staying with them to finish my final draft.