Ying Ma

Candidate statement

I am a third-year PhD student in Literature, and I will start preparing for my field exam in spring 2020 and plan to take the exam in fall 2020. My three fields are American ethnic literature, feminism and queer theory, and U.S. women history. I am particularly interested in the issue of how literature intersects with queer, ethnic, and feminist studies. My dissertation will be about the queer issue in Asian American literature and film. I have always been interested in the stories of those who have been forgotten, ignored and erased: women of color, queer of color, and gender non-conforming people. I will present my essay about Harvard Observatory human computers at the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians in May 2020. Since I am determined to start an intellectual career in Asian American Studies, I am eager to contribute to the community. I am going to elect for the position of student representative. I will do the work of coordinating between undergraduate/graduate students and the board and help students to better engage in the professional association. At the same time, it will be a valuable experience for me to learn from peers and professionals in the field of Asian American Studies.