Spanning personal narratives and scholarly inquiry, this volume presents thirteen autobiographical accounts from sociologists of Chinese descent whose research is deeply informed by their lived experiences as immigrants or children and grandchildren of immigrants. This groundbreaking collection offers a rare and illuminating perspective on how migration shapes research trajectories, theoretical frameworks, and knowledge production.
Through these intimate reflections, contributors explore the methodological challenges of studying communities in which they occupy the dual position of insider and outsider. Their accounts reveal the intersections of personal history and professional development, highlighting the broader social and political contexts – spanning mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and migrant host societies such as the United States and Canada – that have influenced their careers. Crossing Borders, Advancing Scholarship offers both a methodological toolkit and a thought-provoking exploration of how diasporic lives shape scholarly work. It not only deepens our understanding of diasporic identity but also serves as an inspiring guide for emerging researchers navigating the complexities of academia and ethnic belonging.
About the Author :
Min Zhou is an elected member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. She is Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies and Director of the Asia Pacific Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research interests include migration and development, race and ethnicity, the Chinese diaspora, and the sociology of Asia and Asian America, and she has published widely in these areas, including Chinatown (1992), Contemporary Chinese America (2009); The Asian American Achievement Paradox (2015), Contemporary Chinese Diasporas (2017), and Beyond Economic Migration (2023).
Review :
"These touching and insightful accounts by leading scholars of Chinese ethnicity, migration and diaspora studies are both enlightening and inspiring. Thirteen brilliant scholars reflect on how their own lives influence, inform, and challenge their academic work - demonstrating how their own biographies intersect with history and have inspired their sociological imaginations. These powerful essays deserve a wide audience and will inspire new generations of scholars to follow their example and explore personally meaningful topics in ways that enrich our collective scholarship and deepen our understanding of the social world."
-- Mary Waters, John Loeb Professor of Sociology at Harvard University, and co-author of Inheriting the City
"In this landmark collection, Min Zhou brings together thirteen sociologists of Chinese immigrant or Chinese-descent backgrounds to illuminate the diverse experiences of the Chinese diaspora in the United States. Blending sociological theory, varied research methods, and personal reflection, the contributors offer an insider-informed portrait of migration, career mobility, identity, community formation, and transnational belonging. A pioneering contribution to diasporic and migration studies, the volume's co-ethnic authorship weaves memoir, scholarship, and lived experience into a multidimensional account of Chinese diaspora life - essential reading for understanding the complexities of diaspora, race, and identity in the contemporary world."
-- Pyong Gap Min, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Queens College and the Graduate Center, CUNY, and author of Trials, Triumphs, and Activist Research
"This groundbreaking book is filled with stories - touching, insightful, and inspiring - about life, career, and community. It masterfully showcases over a dozen exemplar academic journeys through unique biographic lenses and illuminating reflexivity. It also documents a critically important dimension of the cross-disciplinary scholarship from pluralistic perspectives."
-- Honggang Yang, Professor and Dean Emeritus, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University (NSU), and co-editor of The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education
