Anru Lee

Anru Lee, professor of anthropology, discusses her book 'Haunted Modernities: Gender, Memory, and Placemaking in Postindustrial Taiwan' which explores the tragic death of unwed women in a ferry accident. It delves into the politics of memory, the transformation of the city, the significance of women workers, transitioning through different stages, the motivation behind preserving the memory of the victims, the transformation of a burial site into a memorial park, tensions between families and the government, and the importance of empathy and ethnography.

In this engaging discussion, Professor Anru Lee, a renowned anthropologist from John Jay College, delves into her book, exploring the haunting tragedy of 25 unwed women's drownings in Taiwan's industrial past. She examines how these deaths shaped societal memory and gender roles, influencing memorialization and activism. Lee highlights the cultural significance of transforming burial sites into public spaces, discussing the intersection of feminist movements and labor rights. Ultimately, she reveals how history and memory inform contemporary identity in postindustrial Taiwan.