Thesis--University of Washington. / Vita. Another copy has number: Thesis 27456. Bibliography: leaves 292-320.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

China-Vietnam marriages attract increasing public attention in China and trigger many discussions on the phenomenon of “Vietnamese brides”. The discussions are often linked to the rapid modernization of the border areas since the 1990s, caused by the re-opening of the border, the prosperity of the transnational economy, and the increase of cross-border mobility between the two countries. However, modernity in the borderlands has been “compressed” and unsystematic, which has a major impact on cross-border marriages. This study, thus, is designed to examine how individuals in China-Vietnam marriages have gone through the situation of compressed modernity. A qualitative research paradigm was adopted to guide this study and twenty-nine Vietnamese brides were identified as key informants and interviewed carefully for data collection. The aim is not only to refute the popular discourses that see Vietnamese brides as “traditional”, “money-loving” and “ignorant” women, but also to present how they construct a modern self, reclaim and reshape their identities as “Vietnamese brides”, and create different life chances and spaces through their cross border marriage and mobility. Findings and analyses show that Vietnamese brides’ making of a modern self is a continuing disembedment and re-embedment process within which gender relations are re-negotiated, reshaped, and reproduced. In terms of their different social class and positions, they have resorted to different ideals of femininities to recreate their images and identities as “Vietnamese brides”. Useful tactics, such as making concessions, running away, or excelling, have been developed or strategically adopted by these women to claim their agency and subjectivity in intimate relationships. Importantly, the specific context of the China-Vietnam border has provided varied opportunities and resources for Vietnamese brides to go beyond the state’s regulations and constraints on citizenship and to experiment the alternatives. Through taking advantage of the situations of 乱(chaos) and the benefits of living in the space “inbetween”, Vietnamese brides have developed different transnational networks and practiced their maternal citizenship at these border zones. Modernity is the outcome of globally connected histories but with uneven consequences. Although individuals are all included in modernity, they are differently positioned within it. Thus modernity is not monolithic and it is experienced differently and has varied consequences for gendered and sexual relations in different parts of the world. This research on Vietnamese brides has engaged with current academic debates around modernity and intimacy, and the purpose is to reveal the increasing complexity and diversity of patterns of intimacy in compressed modernity. It provides a good empirical case to elucidate that even within a relatively small specific region of the borderlands, there is also a highly complex and fluid social system of compressed modernity. Vietnamese brides’ varying practices of intimacy not only question the Western-centric theorization of modernity but also indicate their different ways to participate in and engage with modernity. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Lam Annie. / Thesis submitted in: September 2006. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-170). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstracts --- p.i-iii / Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter I. --- The Development of Marriage in Hong Kong (1966-1997) --- p.14 / Chapter 1. --- Debates over the reforms of marriage legislations (1966-1977) --- p.14 / Chapter 2. --- The Narrowing of Gender Differences and Its Impact on Local Marriages (1977-1989) --- p.16 / Chapter 3. --- Political Instability and the Threats to Local Marriage (1989-1997) --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter II --- . Perspectives towards Marriage in Student Dramas by the Local Youth (1966-1977) --- p.26 / Chapter 1. --- Movement of Spoken Drama Initiated by Local Students --- p.27 / Chapter 2. --- Composition of Original Drama --- p.31 / Chapter 3. --- Concepts of Marriage in Student Drama: Modern v.s Traditions (1968-1970) --- p.33 / Chapter 4. --- Concept of Marriage in Student Drama: Marriage and Social Developments (1971-1977) --- p.44 / Chapter 5. --- Summary --- p.53 / Illustrations for Chapter II --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter III --- Women's Identity Under the Institution of Marriage (1977-1989) --- p.56 / Chapter 1. --- Young Women's Problems (1977-1980) --- p.57 / Chapter 2. --- Victimization of Women (1982-1984) --- p.62 / Chapter 3. --- Rise of Career Women (1984-1985) --- p.69 / Chapter 4. --- Re-evaluation of Gender Roles in Marriage and the Society (1986-1989) --- p.74 / Chapter 5. --- Summary --- p.85 / Illustrations for Chapter III --- p.87 / Chapter Chapter IV --- The Disintegration of Family in Local Spoken Drama (1989-1997) --- p.89 / Chapter 1. --- Re-evaluation on the Necessity of Marriage (1989-1992) --- p.90 / Chapter 2. --- Alternatives to Marriage Introduced (1992-1995) --- p.104 / Chapter 3. --- Marriage Concepts and the Cultural Identity of Hong Kong (1996-1997) --- p.115 / Chapter 4. --- Summary --- p.122 / Illustrations for Chapter IV --- p.124 / Conclusion --- p.126 / Appendices / Appendix 1: Plays Performed for the FS Drama Festival (1966-1974) --- p.135 / Appendix 2: Plays Performed by the Joint-School Drama Project (1969-1977) --- p.139 / Appendix 3: Productions of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (1977-1997) --- p.141 / Appendix 4: Plays performed by Chung Ying Theatre (1990-1995) --- p.148 / Appendix 5: Plays performed by Zuni Icosahedron (1982-1992) --- p.151 / List of References --- p.154

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Cooperative marriage is a heterosexual marriage negotiated and performed by a lala (a woman with same-sex desire) and a gay man. Building on growing debates on cooperative marriage within the tongzhi community and on intensifying media and academic attention, this thesis presents an empirical investigation of how gay men and lalas understand their experiences while in cooperative marriage. The study is based on in-depth interviews, participant observation and focus group interviews of twenty-two gay men and lalas in cooperative marriage distributed across five cities in China: Beijing, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Foshan. Among the questions addressed are: Why do gay men and lalas opt for this particular type of marriage? What are the lived experiences of sexual minorities facing cultural and institutional discrimination in China? What are the main living strategies and styles they adopt to cope with such discrimination? The study also explores different ways of relating to others and some novel intimate practices emerging. It is shown that, in general, these are not in harmony with the heteronormative values that are dominating society today. The new ways and practices are therefore challenging criticism from liberal rights activists, particularly with regard to issues such as coming out. I identify four types of orientations of gay men and lalas towards cooperative marriage: familial, individual, pragmatic, and idealistic. These reveal how gay men and lalas understand their relations to other main players in their lives and strategize accordingly. Among the characteristics playing key roles in their decision making are gender, being the single child of the family and co-residence with the parents in the same city (local vs. non-local). It is shown that the lives of gay men and lalas in cooperative marriage are being complicated by the need to negotiate multiple relationships, e.g., with the marital partner, the same-sex partner, the marital partner’s partner, the natal family, the in-laws, and the gay community around. I also theorize on the major types of politics of intimate relationships engaged in by gay men and lalas as they craft their living spaces while in cooperative marriage. Finally, I demonstrate that cooperative marriage has led to a new sub-cultural tongzhi movement where gay men and lalas build on the rapport they have developed with each other; e.g., they share information and experiences while participating in semi-open public discussions and matchmaking events. This is leading to emergent types of new ethics within the community which have critically challenged the stereo types and dominant narratives on tongzhi strategizing. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (D. Min.)--Logos Evangelical Seminary, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 365-377).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Logos Evangelical Seminary, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 365-377).