Mui Tsai
Mui Tsai (written :妹 仔) is kantonesich and is called "little sister". This term is a term for young Chinese women who work as maids in rich Chinese households. The women usually come from poor families and are being sold for several years before getting married. Such agreements are considered as non-profit, as the standard of living of women can improve.
It must be realized that the traditional Chinese family needs a male offspring. Poor parents who are not able to entertain multiple children, formerly also killed newborn girl. Given grinding poverty can be ensured by reselling at least the survival of girls.
However, there are no written contracts and some women continue to be sold into prostitution. The Mui Tsai system was widely used until the 1940s, especially in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and parts of Southeast Asia.
Macao
In the 16th century it was common practice in Macao that poor families let their daughters for 40 years as domestic servants. When the Portuguese settled in Macau they have Mui Tsai's not only used in the household but also set up brothels, whereas the competent mandarin however protested.
Hong Kong
In the 19th century, the Slave Trade Act and later the Slavery Abolition Act was enacted by the British government initially, with the slavery was forbidden. In the British colony of Hong Kong, there was a long time with no restriction on the disclosure of girls than Mui Tsai as this was traditionally regarded as a family affair.
According to press campaigns in the UK, the Colonial Secretary Winston Churchill promised the abolition of the Mui Tsai system in Hong Kong within a year. Under pressure from the British Parliament, the Hong Kong government adopted in 1923 the law for female domestic workers ( Female Domestic Service Bill), with the import and dissemination of Mui Tsai was banned. The requirement to register all Mui Tsai has been postponed. Compliance with the law was not seriously monitored.
1926 Great Britain signed the Slavery Convention of the League of Nations. The theme Mui Tsai soon became the subject of an international investigation. After intense political pressure, the government of Hong Kong adopted the 1929 Regulation for female domestic workers ( Female Domestic Service Ordinance ). All Mui Tsai had to be registered by 31 May 1930. After that there was no registration and thus also does not allow more sales. Inspectors were appointed to the Mui Tsai visited to ensure that they were not abused and received their reward.
The last case was known in 2005. Chinese parents received a transfer fee for her daughter, who was brought to Hong Kong. She had to work continuously from sunrise to sunset. After physical abuse she was finally admitted to a hospital.
USA
In the 19th century, many Chinese laborers immigrated to the United States. Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Chinese workers could make up for any women from China and were also allowed to marry women with no other nationality. Now many Chinese girls and young women immigrated with false papers, was in which certifies that they were wives or daughters of the upper class. They were sold as a housemaid and when they were older, often sold into prostitution. Mui Tsai received support from Reformed Christians in San Francisco. The Presbyterian mission house in San Francisco's Chinatown rescued Chinese girls and women from abuse.
Despite the work of the reformers in the U.S., the local - Mui Tsai system existed until the early 20th century.