Qian Zhang

Profile

Biography

Qian joined the PhD programme in the Department of Sociology at the University of York in January 2023. She is studying the experiences of Chinese women in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), with a particular focus on how gender identities are negotiated through avatars, social interaction, and participation in gaming communities.

Research

Overview

While studying for her master’s degree at King’s College London, a sociology module on gender profoundly shaped Qian's academic interests and inspired her to explore questions surrounding gender inequality and women’s experiences. As a keen gamer herself, she became increasingly interested in understanding how gender operates within digital gaming spaces. This combination of academic curiosity and personal experience motivated her to pursue doctoral research at the intersection of gender studies and game studies.

Her PhD research examines how Chinese women negotiate identity, belonging, and participation in online games, exploring how gaming practices both reproduce and challenge broader gender norms in contemporary Chinese society.