The Experience of Recent Mainland Chinese Immigrant Women in Hong Kong: An Examination of Paid and Unpaid Work

Abstract

This paper examines the experience of paid and unpaid work of recent Mainland Chinese immigrant women in Hong Kong. Specifically, the paper examines the effects of institutional and social organizational processes in Hong Kong on immigrant women. The social organization of work in Hong Kong has tremendous impact on the everyday lives of the immigrant women. Using information derived from in-depth interviews of 20 recent Mainland Chinese immigrant women, the paper investigates how these women's lives have been transformed due to differences in social organization of paid and unpaid work, as well as discriminatory policies and practices that affect their experiences.