Si-nais talking dirty : Hong Kong middle class working mothers on- and offline

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Sexualities

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Volume

16

Issue

1-2

First Page

61

Last Page

77

Publisher

Sage Publications Ltd.

Keywords

Female sexuality, Hong Kong women, internet community, motherhood, si-nai

Abstract

Based on participant observation and content analysis of a web-based community of Hong Kong middle-class working mothers, I discuss narratives of ‘si-naihood’ (married motherhood), which have emerged from their online and offline interactions. This web-based space-time provided an unusual window into the multiplicities of motherhood articulation. The study found that although traditional motherhood narratives predominated, alternative narratives, which have emerged through ‘talking-dirty’, banter and teasing throw light on how sexual selves and si-naihood are articulated. While more or less routinely and consciously reproducing traditionally defined ‘si-naihood’, their performance occasionally ‘let slip’ and revealed the arduous yet fragile nature of this identity. Issues emerging from my role as ‘accidental researcher’ as well as the socio-cultural trajectory of the identity of si-nai in 21st-century Hong Kong are also discussed.

DOI

10.1177/1363460712466212

Print ISSN

13634607

E-ISSN

14617382

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2012 The Author(s)

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Chan, H. N., Annie. (2013). Si-nais talking dirty: Hong Kong middle class working mothers on- and offline. Sexualities, 16(0), 61-77. doi: 10.1177/1363460712466212

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