BBC News: Young People in China Fangirling Over a Professor Who Addresses Anxiety
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China's Gen Z finds solace and inspiration in an unlikely source: an anthropologist
By Fan Wang
Published 1 hour ago
"A star sent from the heavens," Zihan Han describes the man she's recently become a fan of—not a pop singer or movie star, but a 54-year-old anthropologist, Professor Biao Xiang. Young Chinese call him an "idol", not for his fame, but for his ability to talk about anxiety and how to navigate it.
China's rapid economic and technological growth has brought significant changes, leaving many Gen Zers worried about jobs, romantic prospects, and the pressure to keep up. Xiang's words resonate as an "anchor" in their lives, making them feel understood.
Recently, over 500 people, mostly Chinese diaspora, gathered in Singapore to hear Xiang speak. He addressed the recognition young people seek in modern China, often looking to systems for approval, which can be exhausting and damaging. He encouraged seeking meaning and understanding from others to better understand oneself.
Xiang, now a director at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, believes Chinese society is at a "turning point", searching for meaning amidst rapid social and economic change. He identifies contradictions, such as uncertain youth in a powerful country, and his work involves unpacking these drivers.
"Everyone knows where the issue is, but they are reluctant to look at it," Xiang tells the BBC, adding that as an academic, it's not terrifying to describe these issues—a process that helps analyze and manage them.