영령말라야의 매매춘 관리 연구 - 19세기 말-20세기 초 해협식민지 싱가포르의 일본인 매춘부를 중심으로 -

Abstract

This paper examines how the sex of Asian women were used and controlled from the end of 19th century until the beginning of 20th century in British Malaya(mainly Singapore), focusing on Japanese prostitutes. Due to the mass influx of Asian laborer, Singapore was a male-dominated society composed of various ethnicities. Colonial government considered prostitution as a necessary evil to keep the colony safe and clear, and enforced licensed prostitution system to maintain ‘healthiness’ of the immigration society. Japanese prostitutes were also registered on the system from the end of 19th century, when they were brought to the Singapore. As they were always ready to go through the medical examination, colonial government recognized them as a ‘Well Adjusted’. Meanwhile, after the break of the First World War, as prostitution emerged as a matter of human rights among Europe and America, European prostitutes were repatriated to their home country. Japan, ranging with the other empires, also carried out abolition of Japanese prostitution in Singapore. This resulted in a rapid increase of unlicensed prostitutes and a prevalence of venereal disease. To suppress the spread of disease, colonial government set up Venereal Disease Committee and considered Asian unlicensed prostitutes as a target to control. It was because criticism over that Asian unlicensed prostitutes are filling the deficiency in the supply of ‘safe’ prostitution for European men after the abolition of European and Japanese was mounting. Japanese prostitutes were required to regain their ‘cleanliness’ through government’s control which was strengthened, and became a ‘substitute’ for European prostitutes.