Description
Book SynopsisAn exploration of the experiences of women entrepreneurs amidst the contradictions of a free-wheeling commercial culture set within the patriarchal constraints of contemporary Taiwan. The book focuses on the voices and perspectives of the women themselves.
Trade ReviewScott Simon, in Sweet and Sour: Life-Worlds of Taipei Women Entrepreneurs, takes up the specific struggle of women entrepreneurs in Taiwan during the 1980s when the economy was expanding the export sector and entering the stage of development with higher rates of economic growth. Simon . . . has gathered remarkable insights in the process that promote women's entry in new economic activities, transforming their conditions of life. -- Krishna Ahooja-Patel, Saint Mary's University, Halifax
Thought-stimulating book . . . excellent. * Taipei Times *
Sweet and Sour is an interesting and important ethnography about Taipei, Taiwan, a place that is fully integrated into a global community, and the women who own businesses there. Its ethnographic detail makes this book a pleasure to read. * Anthropology of Work Review *
This is a wonderful book. Anyone needing an ethnography of Taiwan today should assign it, as should anyone interested in East Asian societies, flexible accumulation, and gender. -- Hill Gates, Stanford University
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Social Contests of Female Entrepreneurship Chapter 3: Two Street Vendors Chapter 4: A Stone Cutter Chapter 5: A Ritual Goods Seller Chapter 6: A Hairdresser Chapter 7: A Café Owner Chapter 8: A Lesbian Bar Chapter 9: An Eel Exporter Chapter 10: A Non-profit Dog Shelter Chapter 11: A Global Café Chapter 12: A Fashion Designer Chapter 13: A Breakfast Café Chapter 14: An Aboriginal Crafts Dealer Chapter 15: Women in a Flower Drinking World Chapter 16: Concluding Notes Glossary Appendix on Methodology Bibliography
