The Missing Girls and Women of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan ─ A Sociological Study of Infanticide, Forced Prostitution, Political Imprisonment, "Ghost Brides," Runaways and Thrownaways, 1900-2000s

In this comparative-historical sociological study, Huang (sociology, U. of Louisiana-Lafayette) offers a classification system and conceptual framework for understanding the social circumstances surrounding missing women and girls in Greater China over the past 100 years. In part 1, the author describes a classification system based on the connection between agency and structure, broken down into categories of forced and voluntary migration, involvement or noninvolvement with slave labor, and likely or unlikely reunification with family. Part 2 describes possible scenarios of those who have little or no chance of returning to mainstream society, such as political prisoners, slain female infants, lepers, and 'ghost brides' (women murdered so that families could bury a 'wife' with an unmarried dead son). Part 3 describes situations related to 'comfort women,' trafficked women and girls, and runaways/throwaways. The book includes b&w contemporary photos. It will be of interest to professionals and students in sociology, criminology, law enforcement, and gender studies. Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Hua-Lun Huang is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Child and Family Studies at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. His writings focus on East Asian gangs/pirates, Chinese secret societies, delinquent cults and trafficking in women.