The sexual economy of desire: girlfriends, boyfriends and babies among Indonesian women migrants in Hong Kong

Abstract

This chapter examines the cultural and political logics embedded in state and institutional imperatives that shape the experiences of Indonesian women during labour migration, in Hong Kong, in three areas related to women’s sexuality. The first is about the mutability of sexuality among women who choose homosexual partnerships during migration. The second, is about Indonesian migrant women's in relationships with local men and foreign men. The last area focuses on the unintended pregnancies when 'foreign babies' are conceived and sometimes born in Hong Kong. Although pregnancies are seldom intended, this chapter shows that three aspects are related to the realities, policies and practices that frame globalised labour supply. In addition, this chapter concludes that Indonesian migrant women are poorly equipped to deal with issues of sexual and reproductive health because of the impact of gender ideologies on women's access to information and support in Indonesia.