Governing sex, building the nation : the politics of prostitution in postcolonial Taiwan (1945-1979)

• Main Author: Yen, Wan-Chen
• Published: University of Essex 2012
• Subjects: 951.24905
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.559087

The aim of this research is to explore the sexual politics of Chinese nationalism in Taiwan between 1945 and 1979, focusing on the politicisation of prostitution and its role in the reproduction of postcolonial !lationhood. In the period following Japanese colonisation (1895-1945), US-backed nationalism was intensively promoted by the KMT in Taiwan to construct 'Free China' in opposition to the mainland Chinese communist regime (1945-1979). This thesis examines the political struggle over prostitution policy that was framed within and through contested knowledge, rationales and tactics underpinning the nationalist project, constructing and policing prostitution as a social/national problem, and yet also created a market for prostitution and turned it into political opportunities that served a variety of nationalistic interests. This thesis opens with a critical overview of key theoretical frameworks for the structure of this thesis based on the themes of 'nationalism', 'representation', and 'sexual governance', interwoven with postcolonial studies and an overview of historical research methods used. It then offers four thematic chapters exploring four dominant techniques of governmg prostitution as employed by different KMT nationalist activists: rescue, abolition/rehabilitation, medicalisation and policing.