China – The Return of the Concubine
42 result(s)
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4555
4555
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4451
4451
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3472
China – The Return of the Concubine
Dazhu (22), like many Chinese women of her generation, left her village to find work in Shanghai. Here she is seen farewelling her grandmother.
© Axelle de Russé
3472
China – The Return of the Concubine
Dazhu (22), like many Chinese women of her generation, left her village to find work in Shanghai. Here she is seen farewelling her grandmother.
© Axelle de Russé
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3473
China – The Return of the Concubine
Last night at home for Dazhu before heading for the big city. She is thinking of her friends already there: some have become concubines, with wealthy married men paying for their apartments and expenses.
© Axelle de Russé
3473
China – The Return of the Concubine
Last night at home for Dazhu before heading for the big city. She is thinking of her friends already there: some have become concubines, with wealthy married men paying for their apartments and expenses.
© Axelle de Russé
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3474
China – The Return of the Concubine
According to government sources, 8 million Chinese leave rural areas for the cities every year. 20% of female migrants are sex workers.
© Axelle de Russé
3474
China – The Return of the Concubine
According to government sources, 8 million Chinese leave rural areas for the cities every year. 20% of female migrants are sex workers.
© Axelle de Russé
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3475
China – The Return of the Concubine
Dazhu’s father is unemployed; her mother does odd jobs, earning around 30 euros a month. Dazhu is leaving the village to escape poverty and help her parents.
© Axelle de Russé
3475
China – The Return of the Concubine
Dazhu’s father is unemployed; her mother does odd jobs, earning around 30 euros a month. Dazhu is leaving the village to escape poverty and help her parents.
© Axelle de Russé
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3476
China – The Return of the Concubine
Dazhu has high hopes. She has spent all her savings so that she can travel in decent conditions on the 24-hour trip to Shanghai.
© Axelle de Russé
3476
China – The Return of the Concubine
Dazhu has high hopes. She has spent all her savings so that she can travel in decent conditions on the 24-hour trip to Shanghai.
© Axelle de Russé
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3477
China – The Return of the Concubine
Thousands of migrants come to Shanghai to find better paid jobs, for example as workers, cleaning ladies or bar hostesses, but living conditions are difficult.
© Axelle de Russé
3477
China – The Return of the Concubine
Thousands of migrants come to Shanghai to find better paid jobs, for example as workers, cleaning ladies or bar hostesses, but living conditions are difficult.
© Axelle de Russé
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3478
China – The Return of the Concubine
Dazhu has met up with three friends from her province; they are all hostesses, and share a room measuring 15 square meters. They have all adopted western names; Dazhu is now known as Kathy.
© Axelle de Russé
3478
China – The Return of the Concubine
Dazhu has met up with three friends from her province; they are all hostesses, and share a room measuring 15 square meters. They have all adopted western names; Dazhu is now known as Kathy.
© Axelle de Russé
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3479
China – The Return of the Concubine
When she started working in this bar in Shanghai, Kathy thought her job was as a waitress, but it turned out to be as a “bar hostess”. The next dream is to be dependent on one man only.
© Axelle de Russé
3479
China – The Return of the Concubine
When she started working in this bar in Shanghai, Kathy thought her job was as a waitress, but it turned out to be as a “bar hostess”. The next dream is to be dependent on one man only.
© Axelle de Russé
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3480
China – The Return of the Concubine
Bar hostesses earn €1.50 for each glass of strong liquor sold. On good evenings they can earn as much as 20 euros. If they leave in the company of a customer, they can earn twice as much.
© Axelle de Russé
3480
China – The Return of the Concubine
Bar hostesses earn €1.50 for each glass of strong liquor sold. On good evenings they can earn as much as 20 euros. If they leave in the company of a customer, they can earn twice as much.
© Axelle de Russé
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3481
China – The Return of the Concubine
Fifty girls work in this bar – waiting and waiting – part of their daily routine.
© Axelle de Russé
3481
China – The Return of the Concubine
Fifty girls work in this bar – waiting and waiting – part of their daily routine.
© Axelle de Russé
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3482
China – The Return of the Concubine
Prostitution is widespread in China. Prostitutes are found behind the windows of fake hairdressing salons and massage parlors.
© Axelle de Russé
3482
China – The Return of the Concubine
Prostitution is widespread in China. Prostitutes are found behind the windows of fake hairdressing salons and massage parlors.
© Axelle de Russé
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3483
China – The Return of the Concubine
Before becoming concubines, some migrant girls start off as prostitutes. This is a red-light district in Shenzhen, the new city to the north of Hong Kong, and the only city in China where women outnumber men.
© Axelle de Russé
3483
China – The Return of the Concubine
Before becoming concubines, some migrant girls start off as prostitutes. This is a red-light district in Shenzhen, the new city to the north of Hong Kong, and the only city in China where women outnumber men.
© Axelle de Russé
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3484
China – The Return of the Concubine
Many prostitutes and hostesses hope to find a man wealthy enough to keep them off the streets.
© Axelle de Russé
3484
China – The Return of the Concubine
Many prostitutes and hostesses hope to find a man wealthy enough to keep them off the streets.
© Axelle de Russé
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3485
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua (20) came to Shanghai two years ago. After working as a top-class hostess, she became the concubine of a wealthy businessman from Taiwan. She is now the “kept woman” of a Chinese man living outside the country.
© Axelle de Russé
3485
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua (20) came to Shanghai two years ago. After working as a top-class hostess, she became the concubine of a wealthy businessman from Taiwan. She is now the “kept woman” of a Chinese man living outside the country.
© Axelle de Russé
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3486
China – The Return of the Concubine
For a businessman in modern-day China, it is a sign of success to have a concubine and an expensive car.
© Axelle de Russé
3486
China – The Return of the Concubine
For a businessman in modern-day China, it is a sign of success to have a concubine and an expensive car.
© Axelle de Russé
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3487
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua has succeeded and is now living in a large apartment (150 m²) where the rent is 1 500 euros a month, i.e. 15 times a migrant’s monthly wage. She has gifts galore, wears Dior clothes and totes Louis Vuitton bags.
© Axelle de Russé
3487
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua has succeeded and is now living in a large apartment (150 m²) where the rent is 1 500 euros a month, i.e. 15 times a migrant’s monthly wage. She has gifts galore, wears Dior clothes and totes Louis Vuitton bags.
© Axelle de Russé
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3488
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua does not work. Her main occupation is remaining beautiful and desirable so that she does not lose her position as second wife.
© Axelle de Russé
3488
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua does not work. Her main occupation is remaining beautiful and desirable so that she does not lose her position as second wife.
© Axelle de Russé
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3489
China – The Return of the Concubine
During the week, Nanhua picks out the clothes she wants; at the weekend, the man who keeps her will buy them.
© Axelle de Russé
3489
China – The Return of the Concubine
During the week, Nanhua picks out the clothes she wants; at the weekend, the man who keeps her will buy them.
© Axelle de Russé
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3490
China – The Return of the Concubine
“Concubine villages” are springing up all over China. The young women here, in Shanghai, all live in the same type of security residences, virtual prisoners in a golden cages.
© Axelle de Russé
3490
China – The Return of the Concubine
“Concubine villages” are springing up all over China. The young women here, in Shanghai, all live in the same type of security residences, virtual prisoners in a golden cages.
© Axelle de Russé
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3491
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua’s lover visits her once a month. The lease on the apartment is in his name and if they break up she will have to move out.
© Axelle de Russé
3491
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua’s lover visits her once a month. The lease on the apartment is in his name and if they break up she will have to move out.
© Axelle de Russé
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3492
China – The Return of the Concubine
Like Nanhua, the concubines are usually young and pretty. men turn around them, but they are disdained by the society and spend their weeks alone, waiting for a possible visit.
© Axelle de Russé
3492
China – The Return of the Concubine
Like Nanhua, the concubines are usually young and pretty. men turn around them, but they are disdained by the society and spend their weeks alone, waiting for a possible visit.
© Axelle de Russé
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3493
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua can meet rich businessmen in Shanghai’s one golf practice range, in the prestigious Gubei district.
© Axelle de Russé
3493
China – The Return of the Concubine
Nanhua can meet rich businessmen in Shanghai’s one golf practice range, in the prestigious Gubei district.
© Axelle de Russé
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3494
China – The Return of the Concubine
Shenzhen is concubine city, and in the entire province there are almost 100 000 girls. In the “concubine districts”, they can be seen in hairdressing salons, preparing for the men who come over from Hong Kong on weekly trips.
© Axelle de Russé
3494
China – The Return of the Concubine
Shenzhen is concubine city, and in the entire province there are almost 100 000 girls. In the “concubine districts”, they can be seen in hairdressing salons, preparing for the men who come over from Hong Kong on weekly trips.
© Axelle de Russé
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3495
China – The Return of the Concubine
Concubines were banned in China in 1949 when Mao Zedong came to power, but have now returned with the development of the market economy.
© Axelle de Russé
3495
China – The Return of the Concubine
Concubines were banned in China in 1949 when Mao Zedong came to power, but have now returned with the development of the market economy.
© Axelle de Russé
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3496
China – The Return of the Concubine
There are several areas for concubines in Shenzhen. Some are very busy, others residentials, but all of them are close to Hong Kong.
© Axelle de Russé
3496
China – The Return of the Concubine
There are several areas for concubines in Shenzhen. Some are very busy, others residentials, but all of them are close to Hong Kong.
© Axelle de Russé
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3497
China – The Return of the Concubine
The members of the “Alliance against Concubines in the People’s Republic of China” are wives of unfaithful husbands; they hold secret meetings on women’s rights, such as this one in a youth hostel in Xi’an.
© Axelle de Russé
3497
China – The Return of the Concubine
The members of the “Alliance against Concubines in the People’s Republic of China” are wives of unfaithful husbands; they hold secret meetings on women’s rights, such as this one in a youth hostel in Xi’an.
© Axelle de Russé
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3498
China – The Return of the Concubine
Xujing is in tears: her husband has had a concubine for the past five years. No lawyer will take on her case as her husband is a judge and member of the Communist Party of China.
© Axelle de Russé
3498
China – The Return of the Concubine
Xujing is in tears: her husband has had a concubine for the past five years. No lawyer will take on her case as her husband is a judge and member of the Communist Party of China.
© Axelle de Russé
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3499
China – The Return of the Concubine
Zhang Yufen became a private detective by hunting down her husband’s “second wife”. Nicknamed the concubine killer, she receives regular death threats, and will stop at nothing in her search for evidence.
© Axelle de Russé
3499
China – The Return of the Concubine
Zhang Yufen became a private detective by hunting down her husband’s “second wife”. Nicknamed the concubine killer, she receives regular death threats, and will stop at nothing in her search for evidence.
© Axelle de Russé
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3500
China – The Return of the Concubine
To immortalize their meeting, the cheated women take pictures of themselves. In the center, the detective woman.
© Axelle de Russé
3500
China – The Return of the Concubine
To immortalize their meeting, the cheated women take pictures of themselves. In the center, the detective woman.
© Axelle de Russé
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3501
China – The Return of the Concubine
With the return of concubines, there has been a boom in business for private detectives, such as Zhang Yufen.
© Axelle de Russé
3501
China – The Return of the Concubine
With the return of concubines, there has been a boom in business for private detectives, such as Zhang Yufen.
© Axelle de Russé
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3502
China – The Return of the Concubine
Legislation passed in China in 2001 accepts bigamy as grounds for divorce, but for a wife to receive compensation, she has to produce extensive evidence of her husband’s double life, which is obviously difficult to obtain.
© Axelle de Russé
3502
China – The Return of the Concubine
Legislation passed in China in 2001 accepts bigamy as grounds for divorce, but for a wife to receive compensation, she has to produce extensive evidence of her husband’s double life, which is obviously difficult to obtain.
© Axelle de Russé
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3503
China – The Return of the Concubine
In the district court of Xincheng in Xi’an, mediation is conducted before judgments are handed down in family law cases. In the past thirty years the number of divorces in China has increased five-fold.
© Axelle de Russé
3503
China – The Return of the Concubine
In the district court of Xincheng in Xi’an, mediation is conducted before judgments are handed down in family law cases. In the past thirty years the number of divorces in China has increased five-fold.
© Axelle de Russé
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3504
China – The Return of the Concubine
Xian Mengfei is from a poor family. She started as the concubine of a man three times her age who paid off all her parents’ debts. She now lives in a modern district in Shenzhen, opposite Hong Kong, the paradise.
© Axelle de Russé
3504
China – The Return of the Concubine
Xian Mengfei is from a poor family. She started as the concubine of a man three times her age who paid off all her parents’ debts. She now lives in a modern district in Shenzhen, opposite Hong Kong, the paradise.
© Axelle de Russé
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3505
China – The Return of the Concubine
Loneliness is the price concubines have to pay for success.
© Axelle de Russé
3505
China – The Return of the Concubine
Loneliness is the price concubines have to pay for success.
© Axelle de Russé
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3506
China – The Return of the Concubine
Xian Mengfei is a kept woman, kept by a young man from Hong Kong who is a trader, earning 7000 euros a month. She hopes they will marry.
© Axelle de Russé
3506
China – The Return of the Concubine
Xian Mengfei is a kept woman, kept by a young man from Hong Kong who is a trader, earning 7000 euros a month. She hopes they will marry.
© Axelle de Russé
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3507
China – The Return of the Concubine
Xian Mengfei is a kept woman, kept by a young man from Hong Kong who is a trader, earning 7000 euros a month. She hopes they will marry.
© Axelle de Russé
3507
China – The Return of the Concubine
Xian Mengfei is a kept woman, kept by a young man from Hong Kong who is a trader, earning 7000 euros a month. She hopes they will marry.
© Axelle de Russé
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3508
China – The Return of the Concubine
Young women in China hoping to find freedom with the money of their lovers. Xian Mengfei decided to set up a boutique, but the man is still the owner.
© Axelle de Russé
3508
China – The Return of the Concubine
Young women in China hoping to find freedom with the money of their lovers. Xian Mengfei decided to set up a boutique, but the man is still the owner.
© Axelle de Russé
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3509
China – The Return of the Concubine
In her childhood bedroom, Xiang Mengfei has hanged on the wall, numerous pictures of the chinese movie celebrities. She already wanted to look like them.
© Axelle de Russé
3509
China – The Return of the Concubine
In her childhood bedroom, Xiang Mengfei has hanged on the wall, numerous pictures of the chinese movie celebrities. She already wanted to look like them.
© Axelle de Russé
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3510
China – The Return of the Concubine
It is in order to run away from the misery that Xiang Mengfei left her village. Nowadays, she can buy red pumps while her neighborhoods go bare-foot.
© Axelle de Russé
3510
China – The Return of the Concubine
It is in order to run away from the misery that Xiang Mengfei left her village. Nowadays, she can buy red pumps while her neighborhoods go bare-foot.
© Axelle de Russé
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3511
China – The Return of the Concubine
For the moment, Xian Mengfei is successful, but when she goes home to her village in the region of Mai Zhou, no one will speak to her. It may be a secret in theory, but in practice everyone knows, and everyone disapproves.
© Axelle de Russé
3511
China – The Return of the Concubine
For the moment, Xian Mengfei is successful, but when she goes home to her village in the region of Mai Zhou, no one will speak to her. It may be a secret in theory, but in practice everyone knows, and everyone disapproves.
© Axelle de Russé