What happened to China’s generation of only daughters? Under China’s one-child policy, a generation of only daughters in the 1980s grew up with unprecedented access to university education and careers in high-paying fields. Often dubbed “little princesses”, these brotherless girls had the benefit of parental ambition and family wealth that traditionally went to boys. And yet, as Ye Liu reveals in Only Daughters, this cohort of educated and privileged women did not go on to smash the patriarchy; instead, they were tripped up by cultural expectations.

Dr Ye Liu, King’s College London, presents her new book as part of China Week 2026, chaired by the Lau China Institute’s Dr Charlotte Goodburn.

Speakers

Dr Ye Liu is Reader in International development at King’s College London and the author of Higher Education, Meritocracy and Inequality in China.

Dr Charlotte Goodburn is Reader in Chinese Politics and Development. Before coming to King's, Charlotte was a post-doctoral researcher in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge. She completed her PhD in the Department of Land Economy at Cambridge, and holds a BA (in History) and an MPhil (in Contemporary Chinese Studies), also from Cambridge.

This is a free event, which means we overbook to allow for no-shows and avoid empty seats. While we generally do not have to turn people away, this does mean we cannot guarantee all ticket holders a place. Admission is on a first come, first served basis. Those without tickets will not be admitted.

This event is hosted as part of King’s Lau China Institute’s CHINA WEEK (19-23 October) - a series of events designed to engage a wider audience in China. Find out more at kcl.ac.uk/china-week