GIP hosts evening with Joy Chen
By Rick Caragher, Co-director, Global Initiatives Program
On Monday, Feb. 23, after being introduced by Global Scholar Miller Whitehouse-Levin, Joy Chen shared her circuitous professional path, examined the roles of social media in China, discussed matters of censorship, and compared and contrasted America and China, as well as three major generational groups within China. Chen has worked in real estate, as a deputy mayor of Los Angeles, a CEO head-hunter, and is now a best-selling author, public speaker and tv show host. Her electric personality, humor and insightful observations captivated her audience.
Before a filled Garland Theatre consisting of members of the Poly and Westridge communities, Chen shared her story and the various forces at play in China. She launched into a fascinating review of Chinese culture/lifestyle and how China’s new wealth, social media, and burgeoning movie industry have affected its various age groups. One student noted, “Most interesting to me was Joy's discussion of generational relations within China. It was engaging for me to contrast the Greatest Generation that was born into the Great Depression with the "hard-working" post-'80s counterpart in China that faced sharp hardship during the disastrous Cultural Revolution. It was reassuring to see that even in a nation with such a monolithic perception abroad, internally there's just as much friction in China between, say, a parent who grew up in abject poverty and a child who wants to date, take selfies, and stay out late. I wonder what this generation of Chinese free spirits will look like when it grows up?” Specifically she examined the minimal window for dating (not tolerated in high school or college but upon graduation one must rush to marry by ages 27-30). Chen addressed what is called the “leftover” women (those not married by age 30), adding that they are among the best educated women in the world and that the real leftovers in China are men (117 men: 100 women). As the use of the internet grows extensively in China (more than 645 million netizens) and television and movie content changes, she touched on the role of government censorship. Chen noted that last fall, President Xi Jinping reminded Chinese entertainers that the role of art is to patriotically support the community. She also addressed the recent relaxations in China’s “one child” policy. Joy added that after years, the 1-2-4 phenomenon has become common place: At a mall or park, viewers often see one child, frequently referred to as an emperor or empress, followed by two parents who are trailed by four grandparents. She explained the social, economic and political reasons for the shift in this policy stemming from 1979 and noted that after decades of promoting the merits of the “one child,” birthrates still remain very low.
Following her presentation, there was a lively question-and-answer session that left many wishing there was more time to ask more questions. In keeping with the celebratory atmosphere of Chinese New Year's, the program ended on a “joyful” note as she awarded raffle prizes that included copies of her best-selling book,"Do Not Marry Before the Age of 30."
On Monday, Feb. 23, after being introduced by Global Scholar Miller Whitehouse-Levin, Joy Chen shared her circuitous professional path, examined the roles of social media in China, discussed matters of censorship, and compared and contrasted America and China, as well as three major generational groups within China. Chen has worked in real estate, as a deputy mayor of Los Angeles, a CEO head-hunter, and is now a best-selling author, public speaker and tv show host. Her electric personality, humor and insightful observations captivated her audience.
Before a filled Garland Theatre consisting of members of the Poly and Westridge communities, Chen shared her story and the various forces at play in China. She launched into a fascinating review of Chinese culture/lifestyle and how China’s new wealth, social media, and burgeoning movie industry have affected its various age groups. One student noted, “Most interesting to me was Joy's discussion of generational relations within China. It was engaging for me to contrast the Greatest Generation that was born into the Great Depression with the "hard-working" post-'80s counterpart in China that faced sharp hardship during the disastrous Cultural Revolution. It was reassuring to see that even in a nation with such a monolithic perception abroad, internally there's just as much friction in China between, say, a parent who grew up in abject poverty and a child who wants to date, take selfies, and stay out late. I wonder what this generation of Chinese free spirits will look like when it grows up?” Specifically she examined the minimal window for dating (not tolerated in high school or college but upon graduation one must rush to marry by ages 27-30). Chen addressed what is called the “leftover” women (those not married by age 30), adding that they are among the best educated women in the world and that the real leftovers in China are men (117 men: 100 women). As the use of the internet grows extensively in China (more than 645 million netizens) and television and movie content changes, she touched on the role of government censorship. Chen noted that last fall, President Xi Jinping reminded Chinese entertainers that the role of art is to patriotically support the community. She also addressed the recent relaxations in China’s “one child” policy. Joy added that after years, the 1-2-4 phenomenon has become common place: At a mall or park, viewers often see one child, frequently referred to as an emperor or empress, followed by two parents who are trailed by four grandparents. She explained the social, economic and political reasons for the shift in this policy stemming from 1979 and noted that after decades of promoting the merits of the “one child,” birthrates still remain very low.
Following her presentation, there was a lively question-and-answer session that left many wishing there was more time to ask more questions. In keeping with the celebratory atmosphere of Chinese New Year's, the program ended on a “joyful” note as she awarded raffle prizes that included copies of her best-selling book,"Do Not Marry Before the Age of 30."
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