Yilin Gao
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Email
yg23420@essex.ac.uk -
Location
Colchester Campus
Profile
- Intersection of Neo-Confucianism and gender roles in period dramas
- Media discourse on domestic workers (baomu)
- The portrayal of women's agency in post-socialist China
- Class and gender hierarchies in Chinese media narratives
- Media discourse on leftover women and marriage expectation
Biography
Yilin Gao is a PhD student in the Department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Essex, UK. Her research explores culture and gender studies, with a focus on the representation of women in contemporary Chinese TV series. She holds a Master of Arts in Communication (with Distinction) from Hong Kong Baptist University, where she developed her interest in gender and media studies. She has published on gender representation in Chinese television and animation, as well as the socio-cultural impact of financial media. Beyond academia, she has gained experience in media production, including television program recording, short video production, and media content creation.
Qualifications
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PhD Candidate in Language and Culture University of Essex (2025)
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Master of Arts in Communication (with Distinction) Hong Kong Baptist University (2022)
Research and professional activities
Thesis
An intersectional Feminist Analysis of Gender Dynamics in Contemporary Chinese TV Series
This project explores women's portrayal in contemporary Chinese TV series through feminist and philosophical perspectives, examining how these narratives reinforce or challenge gender roles. It analyzes female stereotypes, class, leftover women, and workplace inequality through an intersectional feminist lens. By evaluating role development and media influence, the study contributes to discussions on gender equality in China’s evolving social landscape.
Supervisor: Da Silva, Antonio M , Dr Karen Roehr-Brackin
Research interests
Gender, Class, and Media Representations of Domestic Workers in Contemporary China
This research examines baomu in Chinese television series, analyzing their intersections with gender, class, and labour. Through visual and discourse analysis, it explores how they are depicted as caregivers or disruptors, shaping public views on precarious labour. By contextualizing these portrayals within China’s socio-economic shifts, this study contributes to discussions on media discourse, gender inequality, and class stratification.
Contact
Location:
Colchester Campus
Working pattern:
Full-time PhD; Research-focused work.
