story chinaThat’s after years of repressing religions during the Cultural Revolution. At the same time, China is experiencing a rise in religious sentiment.

Dr. André Laliberté wants to know if, and how, these two social changes relate.

His research team, in the Gender, Migration and the Work of Care sub-project Culture in the Framing of Care in Chinese Societies  is exploring how Chinese societies draw on the resources of their religious traditions when they build care policies. They’ll examine the People’s Republic, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Caregiving is poorly paid, and taking up caregiving work may be seen as “losing face” in secular Chinese societies.

But religious social service bodies, like the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, are encouraging paid care workers to practice acting with compassion like the Buddha.

Some temples are also offering philanthropy and charitable volunteering through foundations and even at the ground level of housing elders.

China’s ageing crisis has been shaped by a 1950s to 1970s baby-boom, followed by the one-child policy, and rapid demographic changes related to industrialization and globalization.

Laliberté teaches students at the University of Ottawa about caregiving in his Chinese and Asian politics classes.

Some sessions have sparked passionate dialogues when students speak from their personal and family perspectives.

“I have been witness to life-changing epiphanies for all involved, more than a more formal approach to politics would have achieved,” says the teacher and professor.

3.6 million

Estimated workers needed to fill the current care gap in China

52%

Increase in care facilities in China between 2006 and 2009

72.3

Percentage of the Chinese population over 65 that are excluded from state-supported long-term care services

1.1

Number of full-time care workers in China for every 100 people aged 65 plus.