Vanguards of consumption, laggards in politics? The emergence of a new middle class in South China

This thesis considers the emergence of the new middle class in post-reform China. It argues that Western class categories do not directly apply to the Chinese situation and that the Chinese new middle class is distinguished more by sociocultural than by economic factors. Based upon qualitative interviews, the study looks at entrepreneurs, professionals and regional party cadres to show the networks among these different groups and the continuing significance of cadres. The study also looks at generational differences. The older generations are pragmatic and business-oriented, rather than personally oriented in their consumption. They also show strong collective identities, but these are based in personal networks rather than in a sense of a common class location that they share with others outside their personal networks. In contrast,the younger generations appear more flexible and hedonistic. They tend to be more individualistic, materialistic and oriented to personal gain. In neither older or younger generations is there much evidence that the Chinese middle class is taking on a political role in advocating political reform alongside market reforms as is suggested by some Western stratification theorists. They are in the vanguard of consumption but they are the laggards in politics

A Sisterhood of Hope: How China’s Transgender Sex Workers Cope with Intimate Partner Violence

Transgender sex workers (TSWs/TSW) face considerable challenges that affect their mental health and make their situations more vulnerable and precarious. TSWs often experience violence from clients, police, and others, but it is estimated that 50% of these acts of violence are at the hands of their intimate partners. The marginalization of TSWs is fueled by abuse through isolation and shaming which prevents them from seeking help through formal channels like police or counselling services. There is limited research on intimate partner violence (IPV) involving transgender sex workers (biologically male at birth who transition to women) and their partners who are typically heterosexual/bisexual men. In China, stigmatization, homophobia, heterosexism, and transphobia structurally disadvantage TSWs and this power structure tacitly supports violence and abuse against them. To survive, TSWs rely on informal networks with their ‘sisters’ for advice and emotional support which is more effective at combatting IPV than criminal justice or social policy efforts. Ethnographic data from in-depth interviews with 25 TSWs provide insight about IPV and how informal social support is a protective factor that helps them cope with routine acts of violence. The findings identify the importance of the ‘sisterhood’ and how it protects and helps TSWs manage their physical and mental health