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Dr Sin Wen Lau

Senior Lecturer – Chinese Programme

Office Arts 3S3
Tel +64 3 479 8683
Email sinwen.lau@otago.ac.nz

I am a socio-cultural anthropologist. I studied at the Australian National University where I obtained my doctoral degree in Anthropology and my Masters degree in East Asian Studies.

My intellectual journey was supported through awards from the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, the Australian Federal Government, the Australian National University, and Peking University.

Before moving into academia, I was based in Shanghai as a Consultant for a research firm where I applied my research skills in the design of market solutions for multinational companies.

Teaching

  • CHIN 241 Contemporary Chinese Society
  • ASIA 202/302 Global China
  • CHIN 231 Intermediate Chinese I
  • CHIN 232 Intermediate Chinese II


If you are a research student, please get in touch. I welcome applications from students interested in studying the socio-cultural dimensions of Chinese society and the Chinese diaspora. In addition, I am particularly keen to work with students with an interdisciplinary interest.

Research interests

Anthropology of China, Chinese Diaspora, Globalisation, Religion (Chinese Christianity), Gender, Migration

Publications

Visit here in order to check my publications

Publications

Chen, S.-W. S., & Lau, S. W. (2023). Disappearing girls: Gendered success and the reproduction of the Singapore family in Jack Neo's films. In S.-W. S. Chen & S. W. Lau (Eds.), Representations of children and success in Asia: Dream chasers. (pp. 98-110). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324-9781003301370_9 Chapter in Book - Research

Chen, S.-W. S., & Lau, S. W. (2023). Dreams of success: Young people, agency, values, and citizenship in Asia. In S.-W. S. Chen & S. W. Lau (Eds.), Representations of children and success in Asia: Dream chasers. (pp. 1-16). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324-9781003301370_1 Chapter in Book - Research

Chen, S.-W. S., & Lau, S. W. (Eds.). (2023). Representations of children and success in Asia: Dream chasers. New York, NY: Routledge, 276p. doi: 10.4324-9781003301370 Edited Book - Research

Lau, S. W. (2021). Traffics of the sacred and the secular: Christianity and citizenship in Asia: Introduction. Social Sciences & Missions, 34, 251-258. doi: 10.1163/18748945-bja10032 Journal - Research Other

Chen, S.-W., & Lau, S. W. (2021). The new Chinese individual: Confronting the divided self in Ne Zha: Birth of the demon child. Asian Studies Review, 45(4), 674-689. doi: 10.1080/10357823.2021.1884647 Journal - Research Article

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