The moral economy of Asian migrant women in small business in Hong Kong

Abstract

This article explores how moral norms shape migrant women’s small businesses and examines the implications for immigrant social integration. It draws on qualitative data collected in Hong Kong in the period 2014–2018. Findings from the study suggest that the picture of Asian migrant women in business as either a silent supporter or independent entrepreneur is incomplete. Rather, it is a more complex picture shaped by the intersection of class, gender, ethnicity and religion. Female immigrant entrepreneurship and female empowerment have a complicated relationship, where moral norms both facilitate and constrain women’s business activities. This study contributes to the literature on immigrant economy by suggesting that moral norms should not be overlooked for their implications on the long-term social integration of women immigrants.