Name/TitlePhotograph: The Samsui Women
About this objectOriginal reprint of a black & white photograph titled 'Singapore Heritage: The Samsui Women' by Singaporean photographer Yip Cheong-Fun (1903-1989). The photo features two women with their heads wrapped in cloth and baskets at their feet. They are labouring on a work site against a hazy backdrop through which tall buildings are visible in the top right corner.
MakerYip Cheong-Fun
Maker RolePhotographer
Date Madec.1940s
Periodmid-20th century
Place MadeSingapore
Medium and MaterialsOrganic, board and paper
MeasurementsH: 225 x W: 270 mm (mounted)
Subject and Association Keywordswomen's work & labour
Subject and Association KeywordsAsian culture
Subject and Association Keywordscolonisation, colonialism, colonial legacy
Subject and Association KeywordsMigration
Subject and Association Descriptionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsui_women:
The term Samsui women (红头巾; 紅頭巾; hóng tóu jīn, mandarin for 'red headscarf') broadly refers to a group of Chinese female immigrants who came to Malaya and Singapore between the 1920s and 1940s in search of construction and industrial jobs. These women hailed mostly from the Sanshui district of modern day Guangdong, a province in southern China. Other areas of origin include Shunde and Dongguan, Fujian and Chao’an, although labourers from these regions were relatively few in number. Their hard work contributed to the development of the Straits Settlements, both as colonies and later as the new nations of Singapore and Malaysia. Samsui women did manual labour similar to coolies but were considered to be more independent.
Named CollectionGlasgow Women's Library
Object TypePhotograph
Object numberGWL-2022-75
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved