OCAS 3000 - Population, Gender and Society in China

***UPDATED for 2025/26***

China is a constant source of attention for the international community, mainly because of its growing influence in the global economy. However, it is now at a crossroads: a shrinking labor force, a rapidly ageing population, a very low fertility, and a significant gender imbalance are major challenges that should be addressed to ensure its economic viability and social stability in the coming decades. This transition period is causing major upheavals for gender relations, families and society as a whole. The objective of the seminar is to discuss various social issues in relation to demographic changes, with a strong focus on women’s experience, gender roles and gender-based discriminations.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• A good knowledge and understanding of the main concepts used in gender studies
• A good understanding of global demographic issues (and relevant demographic indicators) and the influence of China in this regard
• A good knowledge of China’s society (focused on social, demographic, and related economic challenges)
• Measurement of gender-based discriminations
• Ability to understand and interpret results of quantitative analysis methods

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

• Ability to collect relevant academic information to write synthesis reports in relation to global demographic and gender issues
• Ability to analyze tables and charts in relation to demographic and gender issues
• Ability to present the main international databases on demography and gender equality.
• Ability to integrate demographic and gender perspectives within the framework of other major global issues (economic, geopolitical, etc)
• Ability to critically reflect on gender equality policies, their effectiveness and consequences, and on the gap that may exist between policy measures in this respect and the way they are implemented.
• Ability to understand policy and social measures designed to affect demographic change and the ideological debates that they generate.

No prerequisites.

Feedback will be provided individually by email right after each oral presentation.

Feedback on the final report will be provided right after the end of the semester on the dedicated Sciences Po platform.

Assessment will be based on 3 or 4 distinct contributions (depending on the number of students attending the course):

• (remote & in class) Each student will have to prepare one or two oral presentations (by groups of two or three students, depending on the number of students in the class) of an academic article related to a demographic and/or gender issue in China (a list of relevant articles will be provided by the instructor to be consistent with the content of the course). The presentation consists in a summary of the selected paper including a description of the research context, objectives, and results. A brief description of the methodology and theoretical approach used are expected. The presentation should end with a brief critical assessment (of the approach, methodology, and results) and include some general updates if relevant [30% to 40% of the final grade in total] (time-frame: weekly, starting on the 3rd week after the semester starts, dates will be determined by the instructor to be consistent with the content of each session; time allocated to each presentation: around 15 to 20 minutes).
• (remote work) A written report (5,000 to 7,000 words in total, not including bibliography) consisting in a critical analysis, in the form of a dissertation, of a press article selected by students (2,000 to 5,000 words) and dealing with a social, demographic, or gender-related issue taking place in China alone OR in another country in Southern or South-eastern Asia (e.g. Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh…) OR comparing the situation between two (or more) countries of Southern or South-eastern Asia. The newspaper from which the article will be drawn can be from any country of any continent (e.g. People’s Daily, South China Morning Post, New York Times, Le Monde, The Times of India, The Guardian, African News, etc.) but must be published in French or in English. Prior validation of the selected press article by the instructor is required. In the report, the information given by the press article must be summarized at first (i.e. what the article says). Then, strong “pros and cons” arguments assessing the validity of the information given by the press article must be built using at least two academic articles and/or academic book chapters dealing with the same topic to assess the soundness of the information. A critical assessment of the sources on which the press article is based is expected. The report should end with a brief conclusion presenting students’ personal opinion about the precautions to be taken, in a general way, concerning the information published in the press on subjects related to population, gender and society. A copy of the selected press article and of the academic articles/book chapters used must be included in the report [50% to 60% of the final grade] (due at the end of the semester).
• (in class) A percentage of 10% of the final grade will be dedicated to the assessment of oral participation in class.

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Readings and Preparation for Class: 3 hours a week / 36 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work / 45 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments / 45 hours a semester