Media & Public Sociology

Op-eds

Yang writes op-eds for both English and Chinese media outlets to engage with public debates on issues pertaining to gender, work and the family. A selected list:

Sarma, K. & Hu, Y. (27/03/2026). How can housework be violent? Gender & Society blog.
Qian, Y. & Hu, Y. (19/01/2025). Why ‘sexual inconsistency’ can make unhappy relationships. The Conversation.
Qian, Y. & Hu, Y. (09/05/2023). Mothers’ education has a powerful role shaping their children’s futures. The Conversation.
Hu, Y. (06/04/2023). What is ‘eldest daughter syndrome’ and how can we fix it? The Conversation. (Translated into Spanish by The Conversation)
Qian, Y. (钱岳) & Hu, Y. (胡扬) (22/03/2023). 从“拼爹”到“拼妈”：“教育扩张”撞上“性别革命”. 知识分子.
Hu, Y. (胡扬) (31/07/2021). 家里谁管钱？家庭关系里的金钱、性别、权力和不平等. 婚姻家庭研究.
Tu, M-W (屠梦薇), Hu, Y. (胡扬), & Xu, L-L. (许玲玲). 疫情留学回家路：解锁跨国家庭应急新功能. 缪斯夫人.
Hu, Y. (17/07/2020). Black, Asian and other minority groups are more likely to have lost their jobs in lockdown – new research. The Conversation.
Hu, Y. (胡扬) (07/08/2019). 谁来做家务？亲密关系里的“权力游戏”. 澎湃新闻.
Zhao, M-Y (赵梦瑶), & Hu, Y. (胡扬) (03/06/2019). 户籍制度下的人口流动，对中国大学生的起薪有什么影响？知识分子.
Hu, Y. (胡扬) (07/04/2018). 中国家庭中的性别不平等：算上孩子. 知识分子.
Hu, Y. (02/02/2018). Domestic gender inequalities in China: Count children in. The Asia Dialogue.
Hu, Y. (胡扬) (29/05/2017). 社会经济不平等下的“蜗居”与心理健康. 定量群学.
Hu, Y. (04/04/2017). ‘Hukou’, and what birthplace can still mean for marriage in China. The Conversation.
Hu, Y. (24/10/2016). The dangers of being a bridesmaid in China mean some brides now hire professionals. The Conversation (a most-read article in The Conversation UK: > 6 million reads).
Hu, Y. (12/05/2016). Why rice growers in China are more sexually liberal than wheat growers. The Conversation.
Hu, Y. & Coulter, R. (08/01/2016). Living apart together and cohabitation intentions in Britain. OpenPop.

Media coverage

Yang is experienced in working with the media to disseminate findings from his research to the general public. His research has received extensive coverage by over 200 media outlets around the world, including the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph, CNN, ABC, CBS, Global Times, iNews, Yahoo!, Huffington Post, CTV, etc. Recent selected media reports (last updated: 1 March 2026):

05/08/2026, Time Magazine: Can AI free Women from the mental load of caregiving?
18/02/2026, The Telegraph: I moved out of the house I shared with a ‘miserable man’. It saved our relationship
24/01/2025, The Guardian: The older couples living apart, together: ‘We don’t have to deal with the domestic argy-bargy’
06/01/2025, The Telegraph: ‘We’re married but don’t live together – we’d drive each other mad’
09/12/2024, RTBF (Belgium): Vivre ensemble mais séparément : un mode de vie qui séduit les sexagénaires
09/12/2024, Pleine Vie: Voici le secret infaillible du bonheur des couples de plus de 60 ans, selon une étude
06/12/2024, Notre Temps: Et si c’était ça, le secret des couples qui vivent heureux après 60 ans?
03/12/2024, The Guardian: Over-60s who live apart from partners have better wellbeing, study finds
03/12/2024, The Independent: Older couples ‘living apart but together’ have better wellbeing, scientists say
03/12/2024, Yahoo!: ‘Living apart, together’ brings wellbeing benefits to couples over 60
03/12/2024, Irish Examiner: Over-60s who live apart from partners have better wellbeing, study finds
03/12/2024, BBC Radio 5 Live: Interview with Naga Munchetty on living apart together and older adults’ mental health
26/10/2024, BBC (Indonesia): Apa itu ‘digital overload’ yang kerap dialami perempuan dan ibu rumah tangga?
01/10/2024, BBC: Digital overload: Why women are doing a hidden form of work
27/08/2024, Daily Express: Women’s IT danger
08/08/2024, AOL: Working from home ‘making life more difficult for women’
08/08/2024, Yahoo!: Working from home ‘making life more difficult for women’
07/08/2024, The Telegraph: Working from home ‘making life more difficult for women’
25/05/2024, Cosmopolitan (Italy): Che cos’è la “sindrome della sorella maggiore” di cui si parla su TikTok?
02/05/2024, The Guardian: ‘Eldest daughter syndrome’: what is it and why is everyone talking about it right now?
01/05/2024, Elle (UK): Are You Suffering From Eldest Daughter Syndrome?
28/04/2024, The Times/Sunday Times: Dutiful or reckless? How birth order can shape your entire life
22/03/2024, The Queen’s Journal: The untapped economic potential of eldest daughters
09/03/2024, Yahoo!: If you have high expectations of yourself and feel the need to people-please, you may have eldest daughter syndrome
22/11/2023, iNews: Overwhelmed but feel responsible for everyone? You must be the eldest daughter
14/11/2023, The Atlantic: The plight of the eldest daughter
02/09/2023, Today (Singapore): Adulting 101: As an eldest child, I grew up prioritising others’ needs. Now I am learning to put myself first
12/06/2023, PinkNews: People aged over 65 among most sexually fluid in UK, study finds
12/06/2023, The Guardian: Almost 7% of people in UK changed sexual identity in six years, study suggests
12/06/2023, Daily Mail: Sexually ‘fluid’ Britain: Report claims nearly 7% of population have changed their orientation in last six years - and 65+ are one of the biggest switchers
19/05/2023, ABC News (Australia): Why many ‘double income, no kids’ couples in China don’t want children
15/05/2023, 南方周末 (South Weekly): “拼妈”时代：一项基于179万人的研究表明，母亲越来越重要
10/05/2023, Yahoo! News: Mothers’ education has a powerful role shaping their children’s futures
18/04/2023, The Mirror: Mums are crucial in shaping kids’ educational mobility
19/03/2023, CGTN (Europe): Mum’s the word when it comes to improving global education outcomes
08/03/2023, ScienMag (International): How mums are taking the lead in shaping children’s education – new study
12/12/2022, ArabNews24 (Egypt): Do daughters of working mothers have more stable employment? New study says they might
23/11/2022, 南洋 (Malaysia): 救援工作没效率水灾来袭牺牲老人？
28/08/2022, Vanity Fair (Italy): Anziani soli, gli eventi culturali online fanno bene alla salute mentale e fisica
16/08/2022, Yahoo! News: Online cultural events can benefit lonely older people, study shows
16/08/2022, The Guardian: Online cultural events can benefit lonely older people, study shows
22/07/2022, Fortune: Professional bridesmaids are a booming growth industry in China—but height restrictions apply
03/08/2021, World Economic Forum: COVID-19: Virtual contact increased loneliness among some older people
02/08/2021, YourLifeChoices (Australia): Virtual contact for older people during lockdowns worse than none at all: Study
29/07/2021, FranceSoir: Les personnes âgées, plus isolées et plus malheureuses à cause des contacts virtuels
29/07/2021, Vi (Norway): Eldre mer ensomme av digital kontakt
28/07/2021, Global News (Canada): The Mike Smyth Show (interview with George Affleck on inter-household contact and older adults’ mental health during COVID-19)
28/07/2021, Huffington Post UK: This is how long people have gone during Covid without a hug (also covered by Yahoo! News)
28/07/2021, Wyborcza (Poland): Seniorzy w pandemii koronawirusa: Wirtualny kontakt z bliskimi czasem gorszy niż brak kontaktu
28/07/2021, McKnight’s: Meds won’t ease seniors’ loneliness, but ‘social prescribing’ can help, geriatricians say
28/07/2021, Aire de Santa Fe (Argentina): El uso de Zoom y la virtualidad durante la pandemia potenció la sensación de soledad en los adultos mayores
28/07/2021, Mint Lounge: Video-calling actually made elderly feel more lonely, says study
27/07/2021, Daily Hunt: Mere virtual contact made older people feel more lonely during Covid lockdowns
27/07/2021, Insider: For those over 60, no contact may be better than virtual contact during the pandemic: Study (also published in Newsbreak)
27/07/2021, International Business Times India: Mere virtual contact made older people feel more lonely during Covid lockdowns
27/07/2021, Mid-Day News (India): Study suggests technology made elderly feel more lonely during pandemic
27/07/2021, News18 (India): Technology made elderly feel more disconnected and lonely in pandemic: Study (also covered by SocialNews.XYZ)
27/07/2021, Semana: El contacto virtual empeora la sensación de soledad en los adultos mayores
27/07/2021, Quotidian Post (Italy): Pandemia e over 60 più soli, se hanno avuto contatti solo virtuali
27/07/2021, CNN: Virtual contact was worse for older people during the pandemic than no contact, study finds
26/07/2021, CNN (Spanish): El contacto virtual fue peor para las personas mayores durante la pandemia que la ausencia del mismo, según un estudio
26/07/2021, Sábado (Portugal): Chamadas virtuais aumentaram sentimento de solidão entre mais idosos
26/07/2021, Welingelichte Kringen (Netherlands): Studie: ouderen worden alleen maar eenzamer van virtueel contact
26/07/2021, TVP3 (Poland): Dzień osób samotnych. Seniorzy będący „online” są bardziej odizolowani
26/07/2021, TVP.info (Poland): Seniorzy polegający na kontakcie online są bardziej samotni
26/07/2021, Polsat News (Poland): Wirtualny kontakt lepszy niż żaden? Nie dla seniorów - twierdzą badacze
26/07/2021, Mirage News: Virtual contact in pandemic prompts over 60s’ loneliness (also covered by About Manchester, MedicalXPress)
26/07/2021, Tech Princess (Italy): I contatti virtuali non giovano agli over 60 in isolamento
26/07/2021, Diken (Turkey): Araştırma: Online iletişim 60 yaş üstüne yaramadı; yalnız kalsalar daha iyiydi
26/07/2021, NiT (Portugal): Matar saudades pelo ecrã trouxe mais solidão aos maiores de 60 anos
26/07/2021, Vancouver Sun: Virtual contact during COVID-19 made older people more lonely: Study
26/07/2021, SAPO (Portugal): Covid-19: Para muitas pessoas com mais de 60 anos, a solidão foi mais benéfica do que as chamadas virtuais
26/07/2021, Yahoo! Taiwan: 疫情封鎖期間視訊能消除寂寞？最新研究：線上虛擬聯繫讓60歲以上長者更孤獨
26/07/2021, MSN (Germany): Virtueller Kontakt schadet Senioren mehr als totale Isolation
26/07/2021, Slate (France): Pour les plus de 60 ans, le contact virtuel est parfois pire que l’absence de contact
26/07/2021, CBS (USA): Virtual contact was worse for older people during the pandemic than no contact, study finds (also covered by ABC (USA), KCTV (Kansas, USA), NEWS4 (Nashville, USA), Arizona’s Family, Action News Now, Western Mass News, Fox 12 (Oregon), Fox 5, WNEM, CTV News (Canada), WRAL.com)
26/07/2021, 680NEWS/NEWS1130 (Canada): Virtual visits during COVID-19 may have led to more loneliness among older people
26/07/2021, Samay Live (India): Technology made elderly feel more lonely during pandemic: Study (also covered by New Kerala, India4U, UrduPoint (Pakistan), CanIndia, Sify.com)
26/07/2021, Latestly: Virtual contact fails to combat pandemic loneliness in over-60s, study finds (also covered by Outlook India, Business Standard, Devdiscourse)
26/07/2021, BBC News: Over-60s with only virtual contact ‘more lonely’
26/07/2021, BBC Radio 2: Jeremy Vine
26/07/2021, The Guardian: Virtual contact worse than no contact for over-60s in lockdown, says study (also covered by Yahoo! News, News Cabal)
18/06/2021, 科技新报 Tech News (Taiwan): 研究顯示 COVID-19 疫情逆轉青少年心理狀態 (also covered by 联合新闻网 (Taiwan))
17/06/2021, SciTech Daily: Reversal of fortunes: Covid pandemic adolescent mental health study reveals turnaround finding (also covered by India Education Diary, Kapi News, Today UK News, Mirage News, California News Times, MediExpose, News Postwall, Health News Express, 4State News, Florida News Times, Science Codex)
17/06/2021, iNews: The pandemic has improved the mental health of some young people, study finds
17/06/2021, Vancouver Sun: Teens’ mental health took a turn in opposite direction because of pandemic: Study
17/06/2021, The Health Guild (Germany): A mental health study of pandemic adolescence reveals a finding of change
17/06/2021, MSN: Teens’ mental health took a turn in opposite direction because of pandemic: Study
12/04/2021, Academic Times: Pandemic has increased likelihood of female breadwinners
06/04/2021, Community Care: Vulnerable as well as potential sources of risk: fathers in the family justice system
30/12/2020, 界面新闻 (China): 学生不易，家长焦虑：我们能够想象更好的教育吗？2020年教育新闻盘点
11/11/2020, 界面新闻 (China): 疫情之下留学生艰难归国路：家庭何以成为跨国流动的兜底基建？
20/10/2020, The Telegraph: Joint account, separate or both? What your finances reveal about your relationship may surprise you
01/10/2020, Lancaster Guardian: Lancaster University experts advise government on life beyond Covid
29/07/2020, World Economic Forum: The UK’s BAME groups are more likely to have lost their jobs in lockdown
15/07/2020, 界面新闻 (China): 不当全职主妇就能少做家务？这项新研究的答案是未必
14/05/2020, Forbes: How workplace equality can drive the economy (with a little help from AI)
12/08/2019, Mumsnet: Why are women still doing more housework?
01/08/2019, Moms.com: Even men who make less money than their partners still aren’t splitting the chores
29/07/2019, Ladders: Why men who earn less still do less housework?
29/07/2019, 缪斯夫人 (China): 人到中年，如何优雅地离婚？
26/07/2019, YourTango: Study finds that even men who make less money than their partners still aren’t splitting the chores
18/07/2019, Fatherly: Why men who earn less still do less housework (also covered by Yahoo! Life)
11/07/2019, National Council on Family Relations: JMF research finds partners in control of finances able to ‘bargain’ out of housework chores
25/10/2017, Global Times (China): Wheat or rice?
06/10/2017, 治理与反思: 中国城市的生活空间与心理健康：跨社会经济层次差异
14/07/2017, 中国家庭动态追踪调查文献传送门 (China): 蜗居族们也许想知道的事
04/11/2016, 中国家庭动态追踪调查文献传送门 (China): 为什么女孩要做更多家务？——家务分配模式的代际传递
13/03/2016, Deutschlandfunk Nova (Germany): Sexuelle Toleranz – locker durch Reisanbau (radio interview)