Fellow Focus: Iris Wu

2024-25 Undergraduate Humanities Honors Fellow and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and Quantitative Sciences double major Iris Wu recently graduated from Emory University and will study Women’s and Gender History of Modern China further at Duke University.

In this conversation with Communications & Outreach Coordinator Karl-Mary Akre, Iris talks about her thesis on the evolution of feminism in China and the benefits of external having structure.  

KARL-MARY AKRE: Could you give me a brief introduction of your thesis project?

IRIS WU: My thesis project focuses on the dynamics between state-shaped gender rhetoric and the evolution of feminism in China, looking at censorship after Xi Jinping took power. ⁠

How would you say the Fox Center Fellowship has kind of impacted the project?

As an Undergraduate Fox Fellow, I’m especially grateful for my mentor Shiv. He’s helped not only with my thesis project, but also with my graduate school applications. He gives me helpful feedback, insights on the development of my project, and confidence when I don’t feel confident about myself.

What's your favorite part of the fellowship so far? 

My favorite parts of the fellowship have been the consistent meetings and hard deadlines. This rhythm really helps my writing process. I don’t usually have a strict plan for how my writing will develop day-by-day, so those deadlines make me feel focused and assured about what I’m going to get done over time.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.