Falling Leaves Not Returning to the Roots: Agency, Meaning and Complex Emotions in Chinese Women’s Narratives of Settling in Britain Since 1978

Abstract

ABSTRACT Within the historiography of post-war migration to Britain, many authors have used oral history to explore women’s history of migration to and their lived experiences in Britain. However, current historiographical attention to the Chinese in Britain neglects post-war experiences, particularly those of women, and is yet to engage with rich oral history collections. Drawing on the voices of twelve women, this paper argues that, against the backdrop of relaxing exit controls in post-1978 China, women utilised socioeconomic resources and navigated accessible routes for crossing regional and national borders, displaying their will and resilience to use migration as a means of personal development, and, in some cases, showed pragmatism in seeking to emigrate. This paper expands the historiography of Chinese migration to Britain and adds to our understanding of gender and migration. It indicates that, despite their seeking personal development, Chinese women’s migration was conditioned by family responsibilities, and their narratives of migration incorporated consideration of family members. It highlights how changing policies in China enabled and motivated women’s migration to and permanent settlement in Britain. Teasing out these rationales helps us to rethink the history of ethnic minorities in Britain, moving beyond a (post)imperial framing.