The Transnational Migration and Gender Construction of “Self-combed Women” in South China: A Historical Study Centered on Ouyang Huanyan

Abstract

This study focuses on the transnational migration of “selfcombedwomen” (self-combed women) to Southeast Asia from the early to mid-20th century. Taking Ouyang Huanyan’s personal experiences within the Lee Kuan Yew family as a starting point, it explores the labor roles and cultural influences of female migrants within overseas Chinese communities. Through the intersection of gender history and overseas Chinese history, and combining oral history, microhistory, and cultural memory research methods, this study reveals the process by which selfcombed women constructed their identities, participated in family structures, and carried on cultural inheritance within overseas Chinese communities. The study finds that self-combed women were not only representatives of the transnational labor force but also crucial participants in the construction of gender order and culture within overseas Chinese communities. This research addresses the lack of a female perspective in traditional overseas Chinese history, deepens understanding of the historical role of female migrants, and provides an illuminating case study for women’s history and cross-cultural research.