Who were the Chinese lacemakers who produced for the global market in the second half of the twentieth century? As part of a larger research project, this talk draws on oral histories and fieldwork observations conducted in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong Province. It explores the gendered division of labor within villages, the social and individual trajectories of skill acquisition, technical specialization across the region, and the mechanisms of socialist-era payment and exploitation. By centering the voices and lived experiences of rural lacemakers, the talk bridges global and local contexts, shedding light on the complexities of their labor and contributions to both the socialist economy and the global market.
An invitation to register for this Zoom webinar will be sent to all current IOLI Members a week before the event.
