Hui Wen

HUI WEN, then a graduate student at Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, was awarded a grant in October 2021 to aid research on “Supplements of Care: Fashioning Self-eldercare in a Care Vacuum amid Historical Discontinuity,” supervised by Dr. Sarah Lamb. This dissertation research project delves into the role of Chinese senior urbanites within the health supplements market amidst social transformations. As traditional family support diminishes and state eldercare proves insufficient, many Chinese seniors are seeking autonomy in self-care, pursuing not just ways to improve their health, but also a sense of social belonging and a reaffirmation of their value through supplements consumptions. In a world no longer meant for them, senior urbanites navigate the chaotic health supplements market in search of products to manage their chronic conditions, while also seeking new ways to reconnect with the world around them. The project critically examines the intricate dynamics between salespeople and senior customers within the so-called “gray market” of supplements, emphasizing the complex dual relationship between care and scam. It contributes to discussions on ageing, care, alternative medicine, and social (im)mobility during drastic social transformation. Based on ethnographic methodology involving participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and archival research, this project explores experiences of growing old, forms of self-care, and the human drive to create meaningful lives in a rapidly aging society