Whirling into the World: The Duality of Dance Hostesses' Labor and Social Praxis in Postwar Singapore

Yao, Kuo Mei

QR Code Link :
Type :	article
Subject :	DS Asia
Main Author :	Yao, Kuo Mei
Title :	Whirling into the World: The Duality of Dance Hostesses' Labor and Social Praxis in Postwar Singapore

Place of Production :	Tanjong Malim
Publisher :	Fakulti Pembangunan Manusia
Year of Publication :	2023
Corporate Name :	Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun

Abstract : Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun

Due to the ambivalent connotations propagated by print media, it is challenging to define the identity and positionality of Singapore dance hostesses. Since the advent of commercial dance halls in the 1930s, Singapore dance hostesses as a distinct social group has been subjected to public criticism for their sexualized image. At the same time, they have also established a positive social image for their enthusiastic dedication to social causes. This essay attempts to reconstruct Singapore dance hostesses of the postwar period from news articles and archives, discovering the historical and social features of the dance hostesses, and to observe the various dilemmas brought about by the ambiguity of dance hostesses’ social identity, and exploring the process of their selfempowerment. Keywords: postwar period, Singapore dance hostesses, yellow culture, empowerment

References

Adeline Foo,

Lancing Girls of Happy World , Sing a pore: Ethos Books, 2007

王振春，《狮城老街故事》

新加坡：玲子传媒 2 015 。

潘

星华主编《消失的华校：国家永远的资产》新加坡：华校校友会联合会

2 014 。

二

、期刊论文

范若兰，〈从人口普查看

20 世纪上半叶马来亚华人妇女经济参与的变化〉，《南洋

问题研究》， 2004 年第 1 期，页 17 2 6 。

范若兰，〈自强不息的女性：理发女、女招待、舞女

战前新马华人妇女素描

之三〉，《八桂侨刊》， 2003 年第 5 期，页 17 28 。

Phyllis

Ghim Lian Chew, “The Si ngapore Council of Women and the Women's

Movement”, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Vol.25, No.1 1994), p.11 2 140

三、

档案馆资料

hang Lye Lye. National Archives of Singapore, Oral History Centre interview.

Accession number 002465. Reel 5.

ng Siew P eng. National Archives of Singapore, Oral History Centre interview.

Accession number 001210. Reel 12.

Tan Mui Kwang. Na

tional Archives of Singapore, Oral History Centre interview.

Accession number 002916. Reel 1.

This material may be protected under Copyright Act which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials.
You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research.

Back to previous page