Teaching
I am an award-winning teacher and mentor. I was the recipient of the 2022 Graduate Student Teaching Award and the Dean’s Teaching Fellowship.
My teaching goal is to equip my students with theoretical and methodological tools that can help them challenge the taken-for-granted assumptions, understand the social, cultural, political, and global forces that drive various social inequalities, and ideally take action to address these inequalities. Students may not remember the specific knowledge they learned in my classes but, at the end of the day, they will be more capable, compassionate, and committed people.
SOC 221 Culture and Society
What do people mean by culture? How does culture come into play in different life stages and influence individuals’ life chances? In this course, we explore the various ways in which culture both constrains and enables by examining and situating culture in social spheres that affect individuals profoundly, including education, markets and workplaces, and the political arena. We will first examine some classical works in cultural sociology and contemporary illustrations of them. Then, we will delve into the special topics listed above and learn how scholars apply and develop theories of culture. By the end of the semester, each student will have a grasp of the field and an understanding of how to do cultural sociology. Note that this course differs from the conventional Culture and Society course in that, rather than focuses predominantly on the capital C (Culture) itself, it views the meaning making and boundary creation processes in everyday interaction as a way of doing culture.
ASAM 2620/SOCL 2933 Global Chinas and Chinese Diasporas
This seminar delves into the global imprint of contemporary Chinese diasporic communities, examining their significant influence from the lens of multiple sectors and regions—from Wenzhou migrants shaping the fashion industry in Italy to copper mining enterprises in Zambia to Chinese-owned nail salons and massage parlors dotting New York City. This exploration situates Chinese communities within the context of an interconnected world. As China has ascended to become the world’s second-largest economy, its impact is not confined within its borders but extends into international politics, culture, commerce, technology, and beyond. This class endeavors to unpack the complexities of China’s global engagement and deepen students’ understanding of Chinese communities worldwide. The course is divided into two main sections. The first section provides an overview of the historical journey of China on the global stage and an introduction to research methods specific to studying this phenomenon. In the second half, the course adopts a more granular approach, delving into critical topics such as race and ethnicity, gender and family dynamics, transnational identity, educational achievement, labor, entrepreneurship, and soft power.
ASAM 1515/SOCI 2934 Gender, Work, and Family in Global Asias
In the context of an increasingly globalized world, this course explores the complex interconnections between gender, labor practices, family structures, and broader socio-cultural dynamics within and across Asian societies. Drawing on perspectives from sociology and gender studies, this course offers a comprehensive examination of how global forces shape individual experiences and societal structures in contemporary Asia and beyond. The course is divided into six thematic sections: In the first section, we will learn and critically analyze the key concepts, perspectives, theories, and debates in the literature on gender, work, family, and globalization. This foundational understanding will frame our explorations throughout the course. The second section delves into the rise of globalized beauty standards and the hidden economies of sex work in transnational Asia. The third section focuses on the globalized care chains in which domestic care work is outsourced to underprivileged populations. In the fourth section, we will investigate how intimacy is commodified and shaped by transnational and socio-economic forces. The last two sections look at untraditional, transnational families and their children, examining how parenting styles, immigration decisions, and division of labor are influenced by race/ethnicity, class, and gender.