Eldercare Work in Contemporary China - by Zhe Yan (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This book 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 a wealth of sociological insights, the author 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 book compellingly illustrates the stark contrast between the high expectations and demands placed upon these workers and the low pay and status they receive in return. A key strength of the book lies in its holistic approach, which not only contextualizes the challenges faced by care workers but also explores their search for meaning within an increasingly marketized and rapidly evolving cultural landscape. By shedding light on the intersection of care work, policy, economy and socio-cultural values, the book offers a fresh analytical lens on the precariousness and resilience of care workers. It provides critical insights into how these workers navigate structural constraints, drawing on personal agency and cultural resources to find purpose and dignity in their roles. In doing so, the book makes a significant contribution to debates on labor, aging, and care in contemporary China, offering valuable implications for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners alike.

From the Back Cover

This book 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 a wealth of sociological insights, the author 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 book compellingly illustrates the stark contrast between the high expectations and demands placed upon these workers and the low pay and status they receive in return. A key strength of the book lies in its holistic approach, which not only contextualizes the challenges faced by care workers but also explores their search for meaning within an increasingly marketized and rapidly evolving cultural landscape. By shedding light on the intersection of care work, policy, economy and socio-cultural values, the book offers a fresh analytical lens on the precariousness and resilience of care workers. It provides critical insights into how these workers navigate structural constraints, drawing on personal agency and cultural resources to find purpose and dignity in their roles. In doing so, the book makes a significant contribution to debates on labor, aging, and care in contemporary China, offering valuable implications for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners alike.

Zhe Yan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Constructor University Bremen for the project "B05: Inclusion and Benefit Dynamics in the Chinese Welfare Regime" at the Collaborative Research Center 1342 "Global Dynamics of Social Policy", University of Bremen. His research focuses both on the risks and consequences of aging and the evolution of care configurations in China's welfare transitions.

About the Author

Zhe Yan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Constructor University Bremen for the project "B05: Inclusion and Benefit Dynamics in the Chinese Welfare Regime" at the Collaborative Research Center 1342 "Global Dynamics of Social Policy", University of Bremen. His research focuses both on the risks and consequences of aging and the evolution of care configurations in China's welfare transitions.