Hong Zhang

Hong Zhang is a Professor of East Asian Studies at Colby College, specializing in interdisciplinary research combining anthropology, sociology, and policy analysis. Her work focuses on labor migration, gender dynamics, family structures, aging populations, and cultural preservation in contemporary China.

• Ph.D. in Anthropology from Columbia University
• Post-doctoral research at Harvard’s Fairbank Center
• M.A. in English from Wuhan University
• Expertise in Chinese culture, language, and social policy

Hong Zhang's research explores the intersection of social policies and lived experiences, particularly examining the One-Child Policy’s impact on family structures, eldercare transitions, and labor migration patterns. Her work bridges cultural analysis with empirical social science.

Her publications span edited volumes, journal articles, and translations, addressing topics like aging in urban China, gendered labor migration, and the re-invention of traditional practices. She has contributed extensively to journals such as The China Quarterly and Ageing International.

Notable collaborations include guest editorships for themed issues on aging and caregiving, as well as translations of seminal works on migrant labor and feminist theory. Her methodological approach combines ethnographic fieldwork with policy analysis.