Xiaogao Zhou

Xiaogao Zhou is the incoming Assistant Professor of Sociology at Bryn Mawr College and a doctoral candidate at the University of Chicago. Their research focuses on gender/sexuality, medical sociology, and transnational processes in China. They hold a B.A. in English from Kean University and an M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago.

Research interests include global health adaptations, transgender healthcare access in China, and queer identity regulation through media and institutions. Their dissertation examines how gender-affirming care is institutionalized in China’s healthcare system, revealing clinician gatekeeping practices that reinforce normative social expectations.

Recent publications analyze media framing of queer identities in China, including heterosexual marriage narratives among queer individuals and state newspaper regulation of gender nonconformity. These works highlight how global health norms interact with local power structures to create healthcare inequalities.

Academic contributions include interdisciplinary work bridging sociology, queer theory, and transgender studies. They are affiliated with the University of Chicago’s Department of Sociology and will join Bryn Mawr’s Sociology Department in 2025.