Daughters of the Canton Delta: Marriage Patterns and Economic Strategies in South China, 1860-1930

by Janice E. Stockard

Book by Stockard, Janice E.

Genres: History, Anthropology

221 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1992

Reviews

[Natalie Griffitts]

This is a very archeological read. At times, the bouncing between Stockard's research and the interviews can be tedious and disjointed. Additionally, this book left many questions regarding marital escapism- particularly in terms of suicide. Other than that, I would still recommend this book to those interested in the Canton Delta and/or Chinese Gender History.

[Sep]

This is the most readable piece of research I have ever read. Dr. Stockard has a clear way of describing a situation and then inserting a quote from one of the people she interviewed that led her to her surprising conclusions.

As the silk industry became more prevalent in the Pearl River Delta, more and more women were needed to work in it. Also, there were chances for girls to work as servants in Hong Kong. These situations resulted in women earning their own money and resulted in new definitions of marriage.

Delayed transfer marriages were when the couple marry but the bride continues to live at home working for 3 or more years before living full time with her husband. Compensation marriages were when the bride after a few years realizes that she doesn't like the groom and pays him a certain sum. He gets another wife but the original wife still gets the title of First Wife. There were also sworn spinsters who formed households with like-minded women and never married.