Qian Liu – The Conversation

While the law generally assumes that a reasonable person is always capable of entering contracts freely, this neoliberal view of contracts does not always hold true. (Unsplash+)

August 25, 2026

Why some Chinese immigrants avoid signing contracts, and why blaming ‘culture’ misses the bigger picture

Qian Liu, University of Calgary

The reluctance to use written legal documentation isn’t primarily rooted in Confucian values, as scholars have commonly argued. It’s a response to structural inequality.

A sense of guilt prompts some Chinese daughters to focus on perceptions of parental expectations that prioritize their desires such as getting married and building a family. (Unsplash)

January 22, 2026

When young adults can’t afford independence, family expectations fill the gap — from China’s ‘leftover women’ to Canada’s pressured youth

Qian Liu, University of Calgary

Parental support can unintentionally produce a strong sense of misguided obligation and guilt, sidelining the desires and preferences of young adults.

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