{"id":426,"date":"2012-07-11T22:41:25","date_gmt":"2012-07-12T05:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/?page_id=426"},"modified":"2012-07-31T15:41:36","modified_gmt":"2012-07-31T22:41:36","slug":"chinese-women","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/about-me\/research-interests\/chinese-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Pioneer Women in BC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Women\u2019s History Network BC Conference
\nOctober 20, 2001<\/h2>\n

Imogene L. Lim
\nMalaspina University-College<\/h4>\n
\"Chan<\/a>

To the left stands my aunt with her two children; to the right is my grandmother (holding her youngest son) , grandfather, and their children. The woman directly in front of my grandfather is a relative.<\/p><\/div>\n

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”\u00a0 When is this not true?\u00a0Or perhaps, which thousand words are being told.\u00a0 Without any additional information, the photograph to the right appears to illustrate two families.\u00a0 Does it depict a case of two wives, or possibly two separate unrelated families?\u00a0 This family photograph is a reflection of the history of early Chinese women (and their lives) in British Columbia.<\/p>\n

How was life as a merchant’s wife, or simply a woman in Vancouver’s Chinese community?\u00a0 Imagine what it was like for the children as well.\u00a0 This was a period when Chinatown and similar settlements, small and big, throughout BC were basically bachelor societies.<\/p>\n

Few women were present because immigration policies were such (see Asians in Canada<\/a>) that travel (cost of head tax and sea passage) was prohibitive.\u00a0 As well, traditional values dictated that a wife remain with her husband’s family (patriarchy) if she was not already living with him in Gum Saan<\/em> (“Gold Mountain”).<\/p>\n

The story behind the photograph is much more complex than what appears to the eye.\u00a0 The family stands on the steps of its own home, 1870 Frances Street, in Vancouver’s east end, not<\/em> Chinatown.\u00a0 My aunt is the only child from my grandfather’s first wife.\u00a0 My grandmother is a second wife, who is only 12 years older than her step-daughter[1].\u00a0 Who is the other adult female in this photograph?\u00a0 She is a relative, who also happens to be a mui tsai<\/em>, or domestic servant girl.\u00a0 In other words, she was a poor relation who was perhaps one daughter too many–an extra mouth.<\/p>\n

In a good family, a mui tsai<\/em> would be another family member who happened to have additional and specific work duties; in a bad situation, one can imagine . . .\u00a0 The expectation was that the family would care for her and arrange for her proper marriage when the time came; this was the case for this particular “auntie.”<\/p>\n

My grandfather was clearly much older than my grandmother[2].\u00a0 They eventually had eight children (five daughters, three sons).\u00a0 With such an age difference, like many a woman who married a Gold Mountain man, my grandmother was left a widow at an early age.\u00a0 Consider then the possible options for such a widow who had minimal English-language skills.\u00a0\u00a0 A family’s school age children were often its translators.\u00a0 Any skills that could be applied to the labour force were directly related to domestic duties, as that was her job.<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/strong>
\n[1]\u00a0 In 2012, I located my grandmother’s name in the General Register of Chinese Immigration.\u00a0 She arrived in Vancouver October 6, 1912, with two younger females.\u00a0 They were identified as ‘merchant’s wife’ and ‘merchant’s daughter.’\u00a0 In the register, their ages are listed as 24, 12, and 8, which would give a 12-year age difference between my grandmother and her step-daughter.\u00a0 But, on my aunt’s birth certificate, my grandmother’s age of last birthday is listed as 31, which would mean she was born in 1892 given the 1923 date.\u00a0 Was my grandmother 20- or 24-years old when she arrived in Canada?\u00a0 When I first prepared this presentation, I had understood that my grandmother was younger than her step-daughter by two years.\u00a0 What was<\/em> my grandmother’s true age?<\/p>\n

[2]\u00a0 From my aunt’s birth certificate of 1923, my grandfather is listed as being 53-years old, while my grandmother is 31; therefore, a 22-year difference if these ages are accurate (see note 1).<\/p>\n

Population Demographics<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Chinese Population of Major BC Cities, 1911-41<\/strong>
\n(adapted from Wickberg 1988:303, Table 7)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Year<\/strong><\/td>\nCity<\/strong><\/td>\nChinese<\/strong><\/td>\nTotal<\/strong><\/td>\n% of total<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1911<\/strong><\/td>\nVancouver<\/td>\n3559<\/td>\n100401<\/td>\n3.54%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVictoria<\/td>\n3458<\/td>\n31660<\/td>\n10.92%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1921<\/strong><\/td>\nVancouver<\/td>\n6484<\/td>\n117217<\/td>\n5.53%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVictoria<\/td>\n3441<\/td>\n38727<\/td>\n8.89%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1931<\/strong><\/td>\nVancouver<\/td>\n13011<\/td>\n246593<\/td>\n5.28%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVictoria<\/td>\n3702<\/td>\n39082<\/td>\n9.47%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1941<\/strong><\/td>\nVancouver<\/td>\n7174<\/td>\n275353<\/td>\n2.61%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVictoria<\/td>\n3037<\/td>\n44068<\/td>\n6.89%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u00a0Male\/Female Populations and Sex Ratios of Selected BC Communities<\/strong>
\n(adapted from Wickberg 1988:306-307, Table 10)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Year<\/strong><\/td>\nCommunity<\/strong><\/td>\nMales<\/strong><\/td>\nFemales<\/strong><\/td>\nM\/F Ratio<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1921<\/strong><\/td>\nVancouver<\/td>\n5790<\/td>\n585<\/td>\n10\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVictoria<\/td>\n2938<\/td>\n503<\/td>\n6\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nCumberland<\/td>\n802<\/td>\n52<\/td>\n16\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVernon<\/td>\n136<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n4.5\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nNanaimo<\/td>\n379<\/td>\n54<\/td>\n7\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nNew Westminster<\/td>\n702<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n17\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1931<\/strong><\/td>\nVancouver<\/td>\n11952<\/td>\n1059<\/td>\n11\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVictoria<\/td>\n3192<\/td>\n510<\/td>\n6\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nNew Westminster<\/td>\n561<\/td>\n38<\/td>\n15\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1941<\/strong><\/td>\nVancouver<\/td>\n5973<\/td>\n1201<\/td>\n5\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVictoria<\/td>\n2549<\/td>\n488<\/td>\n5\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Traditional Chinese Values<\/h3>\n

On the four virtues (expected of women):<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A woman should know her place in the universe and behave in compliance with the natural order of things;<\/li>\n
  2. She should guard her words and not chatter too much or bore others;<\/li>\n
  3. She must be clean and adorn herself to please men; and<\/li>\n
  4. She should not shirk form her household duties (Croll quoted by Okihiro 1994:69).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    On marriage:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    Marriage, since it is instituted in order to acquire daughters-in-law for the husband\u2019s parents and to continue the father-son link, is parentally arranged according to customary rules, including those governing preferred or disfavoured matches.\u00a0 (Hsu 1968: 157)
    \n<\/span><\/p>\n

    Sexual relations in marriage are for the purpose of providing heirs for the family.\u00a0 When that function has been fulfilled, there is no longer any permissible excuse for the continuation of such relations.\u00a0 (Hsu 1968: 168)
    \n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    On women\u2019s roles:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    A new husband\u2019s few words to his wife did not go beyond whatever was necessary to keep the woman in her place.\u00a0 A wife did not ask questions of a husband when obedience was always the answer. . . .\u00a0 A divorced woman disappeared into social oblivion, both in her earthly life and her afterlife.\u00a0 (Chong 1994:30)<\/span><\/p>\n

    Even if she\u2019d been told, it would have made little impression, for as a woman, she too saw everything accumulated in marriage as the property of the husband. . . . any sacrifice on the part of the concubine would be considered just and honorable, and expected.\u00a0 (Chong 1994:76)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    On daughters:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    No one is glad when a daughter is born; a girl is “someone else\u2019s,” a mouth to feed until she marries and goes to live in another household.\u00a0 Sons, on the other hand, live at home even after they are married.\u00a0 (Chong 1994:6)<\/span><\/p>\n

    “Jook-Liang, if you want a place in this world do not be born a girl-child.” \u00a0\u00a0(Choy 1995:31)<\/span><\/p>\n

    “A girl-child is mo yung\u2014useless.”\u00a0 (Choy 1995:32)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Further Reading<\/h3>\n

    General Background<\/strong><\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Chan, Anthony B.\u00a0 1983.\u00a0 Gold Mountain: The Chinese in the New World<\/em>.\u00a0 Vancouver, BC: New Star Books.<\/p>\n

    Marlatt, Daphne and Carole Itter (compilers and editors).\u00a0 1979.\u00a0 Opening Doors: Vancouver\u2019s East End. Sound Heritage Series<\/em> VIII, Nos. 1 and 2.\u00a0 Victoria, BC: Province of British Columbia.<\/p>\n

    Morton, James.\u00a0 1974.\u00a0 In the Sea of Sterile Mountains: The Chinese in British Columbia<\/em>.\u00a0 Vancouver, BC: J.J. Douglas Ltd. [1977]<\/p>\n

    Roy, Patricia E.\u00a0 1989.\u00a0 A White Man\u2019s Province: British Columbia Politicians and Chinese and Japanese Immigrants, 1858-1914<\/em>.\u00a0 Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia Press.<\/p>\n

    Ward, W. Peter.\u00a0 1978.\u00a0 White Canada Forever: Popular Attitudes and Public Policy Toward Orientals in British Columbia<\/em>.\u00a0 Montr\u00e9al, QC: McGill-Queen\u2019s University Press.<\/p>\n

    Wickberg, Edgar (editor).\u00a0 1982.\u00a0 From China to Canada: A History of the Chinese Communities in Canada<\/em>.\u00a0 Toronto, ON: McClelland and Stewart.<\/p>\n

    Yee, Paul. 1988. Saltwater City: An Illustrated History of the Chinese in Vancouver<\/em>. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre.<\/p>\n

    Chinese Women<\/strong><\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Chinese Canadian National Council, Women\u2019s Book Committee.\u00a0 1992.\u00a0 Jin Guo: Voices of Chinese Canadian Women<\/em>.\u00a0 Toronto, ON: Women\u2019s Press.<\/p>\n

    Chong, Denise.\u00a0 1994.\u00a0 The Concubine\u2019s Children: Portrait of a Family Divided<\/em>.\u00a0 Toronto, ON: Viking.<\/p>\n

    Choy, Wayson.\u00a0 1995.\u00a0 The Jade Peony<\/em>.\u00a0 Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre. [novel]<\/p>\n

    Hsu, Francis L.K.\u00a0 1968.\u00a0 The Ancestor\u2019s Shadow: Family and Religion in China.\u00a0 In Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology<\/em>, edited by John Middleton, pp. 156-174.\u00a0 New York, NY: Thomas Y. Crowell Co.<\/p>\n

    Lee, SKY.\u00a0 1990.\u00a0 Disappearing Moon Cafe<\/em>.\u00a0 Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre. [novel]<\/p>\n

    Nipp, Dora (director).\u00a0 1997.\u00a0 Under the Willow Tree: Pioneer Chinese Women in Canada<\/em>.\u00a0 Montr\u00e9al, QC: National Film Board of Canada.\u00a0 [videorecording]<\/p>\n

    Okihiro, Gary Y. 1994.\u00a0 Recentering women.\u00a0 Margins and Mainstreams: Asians in American History and Culture<\/em>, pp. 64-92.\u00a0 Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.<\/p>\n

    Woon, Yuen-Fong.\u00a0 1998.\u00a0 The Excluded Wife<\/em>.\u00a0 Montr\u00e9al, QC: McGill-Queen’s University Press. [novel]<\/p>\n

    Yung, Judy.\u00a0 1986.\u00a0 Chinese Women of America: A Pictorial History<\/em>.\u00a0 Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.<\/p>\n

    Yung, Judy.\u00a0 1995.\u00a0 Unbound Feet: A Social History of Chinese Women in San Francisco<\/em>.\u00a0 Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Created 2001-11-05; last updated<\/em>\u00a02012-07-22<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Women\u2019s History Network BC Conference October 20, 2001 Imogene L. Lim Malaspina University-College “A picture is worth a thousand words.”\u00a0 When is this not true?\u00a0Or perhaps, which thousand words are being told.\u00a0 Without any additional information, the photograph to the right appears to illustrate two families.\u00a0 Does it depict a …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"parent":97,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-426","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=426"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/426\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":691,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/426\/revisions\/691"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/97"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/limi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}