Eliz
M.Y. Wong

Welcome.

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), supported by a four-year LSE full scholarship. I have submitted my PhD dissertation, and my viva is scheduled for late September 2024. After receiving my PhD, I will begin a postdoctoral fellowship in the Gender Studies Programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

I am trained as a sociologist, having obtained a BSSc and MPhil in Sociology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and an MPhil in Multi-disciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge (supported by The Women's Foundation Full Scholarship). My multi-disciplinary training in Sociology, with specialisations in Gender Studies and Social Policy, enables me to approach research questions from diverse perspectives, identify research gaps, and develop innovative practices.

Research

My research interests focus on family and marriage, gender and sexualities, mental health and well-being, social inequality, marginalised populations, and comparative social policy in Asia. My PhD research focused on the evolving landscape of family and marriage institutions in Asia. Using same-sex marriage as a case study, I examined how the policy interacts with cultural understandings of marriage, family, and filial piety among marginalised populations, their families, and society at large. I have conducted comparative research in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and have actively engaged in intra-Asian dialogue. Methodologically, I specialise in mixed-method research, utilising both quantitative data analysis and qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews and content analysis. My proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative research methods equips me to conduct diverse and comprehensive studies across a wide spectrum of research topics.

I have published 2 single-authored/first-authored journal papers and 13 co-authored articles, with over 80% ranked in Q1 (Top 25%) on Social Science Citation Index (SSCI, n=13) and Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCIE, n=2). My single/first-authored papers are published in the Journal of Mixed Methods Research, the top journal in mixed methods studies (Top 4%, SSCI Social Science, Interdisciplinary), and Sexuality Research and Social Policy (Top 12% SSCI Social Science, Interdisciplinary). My co-authored articles are published in esteemed journals, including Computers in Human Behavior (Top 3% SSCI Psychology, Experimental) and Archives of Sexual Behavior (Top 9% SSCI Social Science, Interdisciplinary). For my full publication list, please check the Publication section below.

Teaching

In terms of teaching experience, I developed and taught a 3-credit course, "Gender and Sexuality in Social Work Practice," as a Part-time Lecturer for the undergraduate Social Work program at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2023/24. This course covered gender topics and extended into sexualities, focusing on understanding stigmas and marginalization experienced by gender and sexual minorities and providing affirmative practices for them and their families. My teaching has received high praise, as evidenced by Course and Teaching Evaluation (CTE) marks and student testimonials. I received a 5.67 out of 6 (95/100) for student satisfaction with the teacher, significantly above the departmental mean of 5.36 out of 6 (89/100). Additionally, I have been invited to give guest lectures at University College London (UCL), the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and The Education University of Hong Kong. You can find more details about my teaching in the section below.

International collaboration

I have actively built an international academic network and fostered local community connections. For instance, I was invited by Professor Peter Newman, Professor of Social Work at the University of Toronto, to join as an academic collaborator for a research grant "Mobilizing community-engaged priority setting to advance LGBTIQ inclusion in Asia," funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. I was also a co-investigator on a research project commissioned by The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong, and the fourth author of a research report titled "Study on legislation against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status," commissioned by the Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission. I have been frequently invited by academics to give talks at prestigious universities, including the University of Cambridge, University College London (UCL), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of Westminster, The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, University of Hong Kong, and Chinese University of Hong Kong. This extensive international network positions me well to foster academic collaborations with scholars worldwide.

peer-reviewed journal articles (15 in total) and book chapter (1)

1.     Wong, E. M. Y. (accepted) Queering integration in an explanatory sequential mixed methods study: A case study of the power and limits of same-sex marriage legislation in Asia. Journal of Mixed Methods Research. (2023 IF: 3.8, 5-year IF: 4.5, Top 4% SSCI Social Science, Interdisciplinary).  

2.     Wong, E. M. Y., Suen, Y. T., Chan, R.C.H, Tepjan, S, & Newman, P. A. Inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in Hong Kong: A scoping review. (accepted). Sexuality Research and Social Policy. (2023 IF: 2.5, 5-year IF: 2.9, Top 12% SSCI Social Science, Interdisciplinary).

3.     Chan, R.C.H, Wong, E. M. Y., & Suen, Y. T. (2024). Consuming fitspiration content on Instagram as a risk factor for self-objectification and depression symptoms among sexual minority individuals: Exploring the intersection of gender and sexual orientation. Computer in Human Behaviors. Doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2024.108363 (2023 IF: 9.0, 5-year IF: 9.5, Top 3% SSCI Psychology, Experimental).

4.     Suen, Y. T., Wong, E. M. Y., & Chan, R. C. H. (2024). Relationship between religion and public attitudes toward same-sex marriage: Examining the role of traditional Chinese religions through a case study of Hong Kong. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. Doi: 10.1007/s13178-023-00836-w (2023 IF: 2.5, 5-year IF: 2.9, Top 12% SSCI Social Science, Interdisciplinary).

5.     Suen, Y. T., Wong, E. M. Y., & Chan, R. C. H. (2022). COVID-19 and sexual minority individuals: Inductive thematic analysis of Chinese-speaking lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s experiences of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters. Doi: 10.1080/26410397.2022.2102537. (2023 IF: 3.3, 5-year IF: 4.4, Top 23% SSCI Public, Environmental & Occupational Health).

6.     Suen, Y. T., Wong, E. M. Y., & Chan, R. C. H. (2023). Chinese lesbian and gay adults’ self-reported experiences of negative treatment and violence from family of origin: Evidence from a larger-scale study in China. Journal of Family Issues. Doi: 10.1177/0192513X211064874.  (2023 IF: 1.6, 5-year IF: 2.1, Top 45%, SSCI Family Studies).

7.     Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C. H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2022). Heterogeneity in the desire to undergo various gender-affirming medical interventions among transgender people in Hong Kong: Findings from a community-driven survey and implications for the legal gender recognition debate. Archives of Sexual Behavior. Doi: 10.1007/s10508-022-02352-1. (2023 IF: 2.9, 5-year IF: 3.7, Top 9% SSCI Social Science, Interdisciplinary).

8.     Chan, R. C. H., Suen, Y. T. & Wong, E. M. Y. (2022). The influence of concerns about a child’s sexual orientation on mental health among parents of lesbian, gay, and bisexual children in Hong Kong. Archives of Sexual Behavior. Doi: 10.1007/s10508-022-02374-9.  (2023 IF: 2.9, 5-year IF: 3.7, Top 9% SSCI Social Science, Interdisciplinary).

9.     Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C. H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2020). Effects of general and sexual minority-specific COVID-19-related stressors on the mental health of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Hong Kong. Psychiatry Research. Doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113365. (2023 IF: 4.2, 5-year IF: 5.3, Top 18% SSCI Psychiatry).

10.  Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C. H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2021). An exploratory study of factors associated with difficulties in accessing HIV services during COVID-19 among Chinese gay and bisexual men in Hong Kong. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.005. (2023 IF: 4.8, 5-year IF: 5, Top 12% SCIE Infectious diseases)

11.  Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C. H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2021). To have or not to have sex? COVID-19 and sexual activity among Chinese-speaking gay and bisexual men in Hong Kong. Journal of Sexual Medicine. Doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.10.004. (2023 IF: 3.3, 5-year IF: 3.5, Top 18% SCIE Urology & Nephrology).

12.  Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C. H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2022). Rural-urban sexual divide in China: Quantitative evidence on comparing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people’s lives in rural and urban China. The China Review. (2023 IF: 1.2, 5-year IF:1.9, Top 21% SSCI Area Studies)

13.  Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C. H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2022). Sex conservatism, internalized homonegativity, PrEP stigma and PrEP uptake: A study of Chinese-speaking gay and bisexual male youth in Hong Kong. AIDs Education and Prevention. (2023 IF: 1.6, 5-year IF: 1.6, Top 36% SSCI Education & Educational Research).

14.  Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C. H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2023). Association between co-residence and loneliness during COVID-19 among sexual minority people in Hong Kong. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, doi: 10.1177/00207640221110435. (2023 IF: 2.5, 5-year IF 4.6, Top 43% SSCI Psychiatry).

15.  Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C. H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2018). Mental health of transgender people in Hong Kong: A community-driven, large-scale quantitative study documenting demographics and correlates of quality of life and suicidality. Journal of Homosexuality, 65(8), 1093–1113. Doi: 10.1080/00918369.2017.1368772. (2023 IF: 2.4, 5-year IF: 2.8, 36/263, Top 13% SSCI Social Science Interdisciplinary).  

16.  Suen, Y. T., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2016) Male homosexuality in Hong Kong: A 20-year review of public attitudes towards homosexuality and experiences of discrimination self-reported by gay men. In X. Lin, C. Haywood, C. and M. Mac an Ghaill (Eds.), East Asian Men: Masculinity, Sexuality and Desire. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Reports

Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C.H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2022). Preliminary findings of the largest-scale study on Hong Kong lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and other sexual minority people in sports settings. Hong Kong: Sexualities Research Programme, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

• The report was covered by South China Morning Post.

Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C.H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2021). Excluded lives: The largest scale survey on the social and legal marginalisation of transgender people in Hong Kong so far. Hong Kong: Sexualities Research Programme, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• The report had 17 media coverage in Hong Kong, including Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and South China Morning Post.

Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C.H., Wong, E. M. Y. & Wright, E. (2021). Families and physical and mental health of LGBT youth In Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Sexualities Research Programme, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Suen, Y. T., Chan, R. C.H., & Wong, E. M. Y. (2020). Public attitudes towards LGBT+ legal rights in Hong Kong 2019/20. Hong Kong: Sexualities Research Programme, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

• The report has been widely covered by the Hong Kong media, including a front-page article featured in the South China Morning Post.

Suen, Y. T., Wong, A. W. C., Barrow, A., Wong, E. M. Y., Mak, W. W. S., Choi, P. K., Lam, C. M., & Lau, T. F. (2016). Study on legislation against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. (p. 240). Commissioned by Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission

Journal referee

Big Data and Society; The China Quarterly; Journal of Family Theory & Review; LGBT Health; LGBTQ+ Family; Journal of Homosexuality

2024 EASP (East Asian Social Policy research network) & FISS Joint Conference, Kyoto, Japan

2023 British Sociological Association Annual Conference, University of Manchester, United Kingdom

2021 15th Conference of the European Sociological Association (Online)

2021 British Sociological Association Annual Conference (Online)

2020 British Sociological Association Annual Conference, Birmingham, United Kingdom (Cancelled because of COVID-19)

2017 Queer Asia Conference 2017, SOAS, University of London, United Kingdom

2017 European Conference on Politics and Gender, Lausanne, Switzerland

2017 British Sociological Association Annual Conference, Manchester, United Kingdom

2016 American Sociological Association 2016 Annual Meeting, Seattle, United States

2016 AAS-IN-ASIA Conference 2016, The Association for Asian Studies, Kyoto, Japan

2015 12th Conference of the European Sociological Association, Prague, Czech Republic

2015 Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Society Conference, Surabaya, Indonesia

2015 25th Annual Thinking Gender Conference, Centre for the Study of Women, UCLA, Los Angeles, United States

2015 Engendering Change Conference 2015, Centre for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, University of Chicago, United States

I find joy and relaxation in painting, both on canvas and digitally. My passion for art began in childhood and has evolved over the years. During the pandemic lockdown, I rediscovered this cherished hobby, expanding into digital painting on my iPad. Recently, I've been exploring the rich textures of oil painting. As an animal lover, I particularly enjoy creating portraits of cats and dogs, capturing the unique personalities of these furry companions. Painting serves as a creative outlet, allowing me to express myself and unwind from the demands of academic life.