We are delighted to virtually welcome Dr. Zhe Yan from the Constructor University Bremen, to present Eldercare Work in Contemporary China: The Nexus of State, Family, and Market
Date: 22nd July 2025
Time: 12:30- 13:30 BST
Online event. Register your place here on a Google Form (click)
About the seminar
This talk gives voice to an indispensable yet often overlooked group of care workers in China’s eldercare industry. Drawing on rich first-hand accounts from frontline care workers and interwoven with sociological insights, the presentation offers a critical yet nuanced analysis of how statutory norms, cultural values, institutional standards, and interpersonal dynamics shape the experiences, motivations, and coping strategies of professional care workers. The talk compellingly illustrates the stark contrast between the high expectations and demands placed on these workers and the low pay and status they receive in return. By shedding light on the intersection of care work, policy, the economy, and sociocultural values, the study offers a fresh analytical lens on the precariousness and resilience of care workers. It provides critical insights into how these workers navigate structural constraints by drawing on personal agency and cultural resources to find purpose and dignity in their roles.
About the presenter
Dr. Zhe Yan is a postdoctoral research fellow at Constructor University Bremen. He is currently working on the research project “Global Dynamics of Social Policy,” which is funded by the German Research Foundation. His research focuses on the risks and consequences of aging and evolving care configurations in China’s welfare transitions. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2023 from the University of Würzburg, writing a thesis that examined paid care work in China’s evolving long-term care landscape. A book based on the thesis is forthcoming.
Centre for Care Seminar Series
In this seminar series we invite colleagues, partners and experts, whose work aligns with the mission of our Centre, to share their work with us and our audiences, to deepen our understanding of the critical issues in social care in the UK and around the world.
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