Book Talk: Shang Hu

The University of Chicago Center in Beijing

20th floor, Culture Plaza
No. 59A Zhong Guan Cun Street
Haidian District Beijing 100872

Shang Hu is a new book by Yin Xiaowei, a domestic worker and writer. Once a tower crane operator, Yin came to Beijing in 2006 and began working as a domestic worker. She writes in the gaps between her long working hours, recording the real lives, struggles and inner world of domestic workers.

In this book talk, the author will be joined by Paola Iovene, Associate Professor at University of Chicago, Mei Ruo, founder of Beijing Hongyan Social Work Service Center, and Huang Yu, Associate Professor at Minzu University of China. Together they will discuss the book, the lived experience of domestic workers, and the power of writing for ordinary people.

About the Author

Yin Xiaowei, a native of Yi'an County, Heilongjiang Province. She used to be a tower crane operator at a construction engineering company. Laid off in 2000, she came to Beijing in 2006 and has worked as a domestic worker ever since.

She keeps writing in her spare time between housekeeping assignments. Her pen names are Chen'ai and Mochen.

Discussants

Paola Iovene | Associate Professor, University of Chicago 

Mei Ruo | Founder of Beijing Hongyan Social Work Service Center 

Huang Yu | Associate Professor, Minzu University of China

Language: Chinese