Research On Hong Kong Women’s Movement During The Wartime(1937-1941)

During the period from 1937 to 1941,under the situation of the overall AntiJapanese War in Chinese mainland,the British Hong Kong government once tolerated the anti-Japanese national salvation activities in Hong Kong.Hong Kong became the center of anti-Japanese salvation in South China by geographical advantages and political environment and made important contributions to the Anti-Japanese War in the mainland.During this period,the women ’s movement under the leadership of various sectors of Hong Kong society demonstrated women ’s awakening,strength,and actions in national and social affairs,as well as the national sentiment and self-identification.In Hong Kong,women from all walks of life,both local and from the mainland,integrated themselves into national salvation.They carried out various activities with the goal of supporting the Anti-Japanese War.The Communist Party of China went deep into lower-class women workers in Hong Kong to carry out cultural education by organizing literacy classes and night classes for them to improve their cultural level.It organized anti-Japanese war propaganda to awaken national awareness of female workers.It led women in economic struggle with the factory to fight for their own rights.It promoted several large-scale mass movements of leading "charity sales" and "charity purchases" to raise materials to support anti-Japanese salvation in Chinese mainland.And it also mobilized women and delivered talents to return to the mainland for the antiJapanese war.In addition to facing women workers,the Communist Party of China promoted the establishment of Hong Kong Student Relief Association,in which student party members were recruited and based on the female cadres of the association to organize a female student group to carry out the work of female students.During this period,Hong Kong attracted many leftist intellectuals who came to seek refuge from the mainland,so there were also women’s seminars organized by them.In general,the women’s work of the Communist Party of China in Hong Kong was characterized by women workers,and its advantages were women workers.But at the same time,it was also limited by women workers.It lacked the work for upper-class women and intellectual women.The Kuomintang relied on senior members and politicians’ wives to organize the brunches of the Chinese Women’s Consolation Association,the Women’s Advisory Council of New Life Movement and the National Association for Refugee Children to carry out fund-raising and consolation activities,children relief and national salvation propaganda.They took advantage of major anniversaries to organize public speeches and parades,launch national salvation campaigns and collect supplies for the AntiJapanese War.They rescued children from the Mainland by establishing childcare centers for rearing and education and refugees by hosting them and teaching craftsmanship.They also organized a consolation group and went to the front line to console the soldiers.Unlike the Communist Party of China emphasis on the work of women workers,the Kuomintang ’s women ’s movement in Hong Kong mainly relied on the upper-class women to carry out their work.At the same time,it widely contacted local women in Hong Kong and focused on raising materials.The women’s movements in Hong Kong between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China were cooperated through the contacts and exchanges among the upper-class women’s movement leaders.The Young Women ’s Christian Association of Hong Kong was the first women ’s association in Hong Kong.After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in 1937,in accordance with their work traditions,they not only paid attention to the issue of women’s rights,but also actively helped children and supported the anti-Japanese war in the Mainland.Some local upper-class women established Hong Kong Chinese Women’s War Relief Association based on their cultural knowledge,family background and social networks to raise funds for the mainland through charity performances,sales meetings,dinner parties and other events.They also went to the front line to console the wounded soldiers.The lower-class women actively participated in the activities of these groups.They focused on the national salvation movement in the Mainland and regarded it as a stage for social activities.Women ’s activities in Hong Kong had the characteristics of spontaneous organization without being restricted by political parties or political power,which was of great significance for the independent development of women’s movement in Hong Kong.They not only entered the social arena,but also actively integrated into the Chinese mainland in their own emotions and practices.Their activities inherited the philanthropy tradition of the Chinese elite society in Hong Kong.They transcended the differences in social environment and the influence of colonial rule and defined their identity and national feelings.Although the women’s movements under different forces had different goals,they didn’t isolate from each other but linked inextricably.The trajectories of women’s activities from all walks of life clearly showed the connection between the history of Hong Kong and Chinese nation’s war of resistance again Japan and expressed the national identity of ordinary people in Hong Kong during the war.The Kuomintang could not govern Hong Kong so the women’s movement of the Communist Party of China in Hong Kong was less disturbed by the Kuomintang.Under the supervision of the British Hong Kong government,the women’s movement adapted to Hong Kong society in terms of organizational form and mobilization functions.The connections and interactions between the women’s movements of the Kuomintang,the Communist Party of China and Hong Kong local groups reflected the unique social and political ecology within Hong Kong.Through the study of the women’s movement in Hong Kong during the wartime,the Hong Kong society in the first half of the 20 th century can be better understood.The women’s movement in Hong Kong during the war set up a platform for the interactions of all walks of life.From the perspective of the women’s movement,we can know the reaction of the British Hong Kong government to support the national salvation movements,as well as the British attitude and strategy in facing the SinoJapanese War.Inspired by the situation of the war,national feelings and self-identity,the Hong Kong women responded to the war through various forms of activities,showing the connection of Hong Kong history and national history.