The Complex Realities of Empowerment and Vulnerability of Chinese Female Factory Workers: A literature review on the impact of migration on Chinese female factory workers

Abstract

This article explores the complex realities of empowerment and vulnerability among Chinese female factory workers in the context of rural-to-urban migration. The study focuses on female migrants who embody the identities of laborers, rural migrants, and daughters, each of which presents unique challenges in their integration into urban society. Methodologically, the study relies on a comprehensive literature review of existing ethnographies, case studies, and comparative research to understand these women’s lived experiences. It examines the dual impact of migration on these women. On one hand, migration offers opportunities for economic independence, enhanced agency, and the possibility of escaping patriarchal control. On the other hand, it exposes them to new forms of exploitation and marginalization within both the capitalist labor system and the urban social structure. The literature review also informs the future research to consider emerging industries and the self-perceptions of marginalization among female migrant workers and sheds light on policies that better support their integration and empowerment.