Hello there! I’m Yanwen Wang, a Postdoctoral Associate in the Division of Social Science at New York University Abu Dhabi.

My research focuses on stratification, demography, and well-being. One line of my research examines trends in family formation and reproduction in Asia. Specifically, I have documented marital sorting patterns related to caste and race/ethnicity in Nepal, as well as the rising trend of voluntary childlessness among married couples in Singapore, in contrast to the strengthening ties between marriage and fertility in China. My ongoing work focuses on marital sorting pattens driven by education and ideations.

The second line of research investigates how individuals and their families experience social stratification and inequality. I have examined how intergenerational educational mobility—conceptualized as a family project—affects the well-being of primary movers and their parents, with particular attention to family structures and gender dynamics. Building on this, I also explored the subjective experiences of educational sorting across European societies.

My research has been published in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, Advances in Life Course Research, Family Relations, and the Journal of Family and Economic Issues.

I earned my Ph.D. in Sociology from the National University of Singapore in 2025, mentored by Dr. Zheng Mu. I also hold an M.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Nanjing University.