FACTORY GIRLS

Book Details

• Publisher: Mehta Publishing House

• Translators: Deshpande Gouri

• ISBN: 9789353175290

• Edition: 1st Edition

• Publishing Year: February 2021

• Pages: 396

• Language: Marathi (Translated from English)

• Cover: Paperback

• Category: Biography & True Stories

About the Book

Factory Girls by Leslie T. Chang offers an unprecedented look into the lives of China’s 130 million migrant workers—the largest migration in human history. Through the experiences of two young women, Chang explores the trials, dreams, and struggles of workers in Dongguan, an industrial city in China's Pearl River Delta.

This eye-opening book paints a detailed picture of a world where nearly everyone is under thirty, where relationships can be shattered by the loss of a mobile phone, and where learning a few computer or English skills can elevate one’s social standing. Chang takes readers inside massive factories with their own hospitals, movie theaters, and fire departments, and to hidden karaoke bars that serve as fronts for prostitution. The narrative also highlights the stark contrast between the workers' urban lives and their rural backgrounds, revealing the poverty and lack of opportunities that drive young girls to leave their homes in search of a better future.

Factory Girls not only captures the journey of these migrant workers but also weaves in Chang’s personal family history, adding historical context and deeper insight into China’s societal transformation. As the mass migration from rural villages to cities continues, the book demonstrates how this movement is reshaping Chinese society, offering a compelling reflection on the global dynamics of migration and societal change.