ABOUT
kimcraig is a PhD candidate at Brandeis University's Department of Anthropology. Her research focuses on Chinese masculinity, queer kinship, and singlehood, with particular attention to the estimated 40 million involuntary bachelors (shengnan) who face challenges in finding romantic partners due to China’s significant gender imbalance. She is especially interested in the media representations of these men and how they contribute to broader national narratives.
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kimcraig's interest in the lived impacts of family-planning policies began during her time teaching English as a foreign language in Beijing from 2013 to 2014. Her role as an educator, which often involved eliciting personal stories from students, revealed the pervasive influence of anti-natal policies on their lives. These interactions inspired her to pursue graduate studies in sociocultural anthropology, where she could explore these issues more deeply.​​​
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She earned her M.A. in Sociocultural Anthropology from Binghamton University, where she gained a strong foundation in contemporary ethnographic theory and methodology. Her master’s thesis, which examines virtual methods of ethnographic inquiry, reflects her innovative approach to research and is available here.
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As a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she earned a B.F.A. in Film, kimcraig integrates her visual design and storytelling skills into her anthropological work. Whether through illustration, animation, infographics, or film, she incorporates visual elements into her projects to enhance understanding and accessibility. This approach aligns with her commitment to making knowledge widely available and ensuring that academic research transcends the confines of written texts and institutional walls.
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In recent years, kimcraig and a colleague co-designed DOXA, a board game intended as a learning tool to teach anthropological theories such as habitus, embodiment, and gender theory. Functioning as a darker reimagining of the game of LIFE, DOXA challenges players to navigate cultural expectations amidst the chaos of oppressive rulers, restrictive laws, war, famine, and scarce resources, offering an engaging and critical lens on social theory.​​​
