Girl Power

Many of us struggle just to get our groceries to the car without a trolley. It's safe to say Samsui women wouldn't be able to relate to that. Also known as hong tou jin, named for their trademark red headgear, these hardy women came to Singapore from the Sanshui district of Canton province around the mid-1930s and found work in the construction industry.

Many lived in shared accommodation in rooms above shophouses that had been divided into cubicles in Chinatown, paying monthly rents of between S$0.80 and S$1.20.

It was easy to spot them because of their bright red headdress, which helped reduce the likelihood of accidents. Although mainly used as protection against the sun, the headdress was also used to store items like cigarettes and money.