Dialogue (from freedigitalphotos.net)
(From freedigitalphotos.net)

This week, I had my first telephone interview for an assistant professor position. Before it began, I mentally rehearsed the three-minute elevator speech of my dissertation, certain that the initial question was bound to be something along the lines of “Tell us about your research.” When the moment came, however, the search committee began by asking me how I would explain my research to my grandma or my neighbor. Tossing aside the elevator speech I had been advised to practice, I attempted to channel TSP.

As I reflected on the interview afterward, I felt dismay that my combination of nerves and lack of foresight kept me from saying what I’ve told countless strangers about how I study genocide (you would not believe the conversations I’ve had waiting in lines). The dismay soon gave way to excitement, though, because it’s exciting that the question was even asked. As Doug Hartmann shared in his recent sketch, “Dare to Engage in Dialogue,” much good can come from our abilities to translate our findings to the broader public, whether they are policy makers, pundits, or grandmas. And perhaps it’s wise to spend more time reflecting on how to frame what we do so we are better prepared for these conversations.

The Editors’ Desk

In “Dare to Engage in Dialogue,” Doug Hartmann discusses some of the benefits that come from conversations between social scientists and our publics.

Office Hours

In “What’s Wrong With Fat?” TSP’s Kyle Green chats with Abigail Saguy about how fat is framed as a problem and the potential for removing the stigma.

Teaching TSP

In “Framing and Counter-Framing,” Kia Heise suggests how to use Abigail Saguy’s podcast to study framing in the classroom.

 Citings & Sightings

In “Men on a Rampage,” Andrew Weibe spots research that examines how and why men are more lethally violent than women.

In “Daddy’s Home…Full Time,” John Ziegler focuses on a new Pew Research Center study that found more dads are staying home with their children.

And a Few From the Community Pages…

Soc. Images: Lisa Wade reviews the month of September in “This Month in Sociological Images

Cyborgology: Jenny Davis on Do You Still Think I’m Pretty?

Girl w/Pen: Kyla Bender-Baird on “5 Ways White Feminists Can Address Our Own Racism

Sociology Lens: Scarlett Brown on “What Can Harvard Business School Tell Us About Gender in Schools and Business?

 

 

Our snazzy new book!
Our snazzy new book!  Published by W.W. Norton & Co. 

The TSP offices were buzzing with excitement this week, as our second book project—Crime and the Punished—finally arrived! This engaging (and dare I say adorably pocket-sized) volume provides some much-needed sociological insight on crime and punishment in a critical and expansive way.

And that’s not all that has us excited (and potentially over-using exclamation points) this week. Check out some highlights below!

Editors’ Desk:

There’s Research on That!” by Chris Uggen, unveiled the newest TSP initiative (drum roll, please), There’s Research on That! Navigating the world of research is hard, and that’s assuming reporters have the funds to get past pay walls. There’s Research on That! hopes to overcome some of these issues by providing short summaries of social scientific studies that shed light on current events.

There’s Research on That!:

New Pope’s Politics,” by Evan Stuart, suggests a number of articles about shifting views on religion, as well as other shifts within the Catholic Church.

Loosen the Leash on Lenders?” by Evan Stuart, highlights sociologists who weighed in on what led to the 2008 housing crash.

Citings & Sightings:

The two newest additions to TSP’s team, undergrad interns Molly Goin and Kat Albrecht, summarized recent citings of social scientists in the news.

You Want Fries with That,” by Molly Goin, weaves together research that discusses both the decline in American unions and a potential shift in this trend, marked by the recent walk-outs by fast-food workers.

Unique Families, Not So Unique,” by Kat Albrecht, considers differences in the living arrangements of American youth.

And Last But Not Least, A Few From Our Community Pages:

Sociological Images: Lisa Wade on “Who is An American: Racist Twits and the Rest of Us

Cyborgology: PJ Rey on “Rape Culture, Content, and ‘Grabbing 100+ Boobs at Burning Man 2013’”

Girl w/Pen: Adina Nack on “What Can Testicles Tell Us About Dads?

Sociology Lens: B. Schaefer on “Classification and the NSA: The Power of Silence

Thick Culture: Andrew Lindner on “Why It’s Called ‘Obamacare‘”

And don’t forget to like us on Facebook!