I turned 50 this summer so maybe I’m feeling a little sentimental. Nevertheless, in this season of tumult, Trump, and 140 character tweets that pass for news, I have found myself sustained by the some of the most old-fashioned modes of media—weekly and monthly news magazines, and, more specifically, long-form journalism. Here are some of my favorites from the past few weeks, categorized in the ways that I think my sociology friends and colleagues would find meaningful:

—Social movements: Nathan Heller’s analysis of the efficacy of collective protests “Out of Action: Do Protests Work? The New Yorker, August 2017.

—Popular culture: “How American Lost its Mind,” a piece on culture and populism by Kurt Andersen in The Atlantic, September 2017. (Other solid treatments roughly in this category/vein: “The New Paranoia by Colin Dickey in July’s The New Republic; and “European Disunion: What the Rise of Populist Movements Means for Democracy” by Yascha Mounk, also in TNR, August/September).

—Sociology of knowledge: David Session in The New Republic, “The Rise of the Thought Leader: How the Superrich have Funded a New Class of Intellectual,” June 2017.

—Media studies: a trip down memory lane by my favorite television critic of how Donald Trump built his popularity (and personality) in and through the small screen, Emily Nussbaum in The New Yorker, July 2017.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Traditional journalism doesn’t (and can’t) solve all the problems of our fractious world, and indeed I sometimes worry that all of this great writing and reading can be its own kind of distraction or delusion. But the clear-thinking, the ability to put things in broader context, and the commitment to synthesizing social facts and cultural complexities—all qualities that us sociologists aspire to—displayed in these pieces is admirable and much needed. And I can only shake my head in awe for the way these writers, reporters, and critics are able to produce such great, insightful content in such timely and engaging fashion.

Happy Friday all! This week we’ve got a new feature on the sociology of joy and some new regular features on grandparental wealth and emboldened “fringe” ideologies. See below or stop by the site for more.

Special Feature:

“A Sociology of Joy,” by Dan Brook. In our latest feature, Dr. Brook explores the possibility of a “serendipitous sociology” that properly situates happiness in social contexts.

Discoveries:

“Inheriting Academic Success: Grandparental Wealth and Student GPAs,” by Brooke Chambers. New research in American Sociological Review finds that, when compared, parents and grandparents wealth had almost equal effects on student success.

Clippings:

“Emboldening “Fringe” Ideologies,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Tina Fetner and Sarah Sobieraj talk to the New York Times about how quickly “fringe” ideologies can find their way into mainstream culture.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“What Does Studying College Sex Tell Us About Immigrant Assimilation?” by Kristine Wang, Jessie Ford, and Paula England.

“The [Un]surprising Alt-right,” by Robert Futrell and Pete Simi.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“For African Americans, Grief and Loss Starting as Children,” by Tasia Clemons.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Families As They Really Are talks normalization and why words matter.
• Social Studies MN asks if “hybrid” activities count as volunteering.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book

Hello all! We were out last week for ASA and the like, but we’re back this week with new takes on genetic ancestry tests, gender gaps in tenure promotion, and the ways people rely on “lowbrow” culture to fit in. That and more below.

Discoveries:

“Biased Evaluations Contribute to Gender Gaps in Tenure Promotion,” by Amber Joy Powell. A new study in Social Forces explores why female academics have a harder time achieving tenure promotion than their male peers.

“Leaning on Lowbrow Culture,” by Evan Stewart. New research in ASR finds that people who feel they have high status, but also feel like that status may not be authentic, will reach for “more authentic” lowbrow culture.

Clippings:

“White Supremacy, Not-So-White Ancestry,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. STATNews covers research by Aaron Panofsky and Joan Donovan on how white nationalists understand their non-white ancestry.

“Separate but Diverse?,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Derek Hyra and Camille Z. Charles talk to Slate about “diversity segregation” and the ways that neighborhood segregation is changing but also staying the same.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“College Women: Seen as a ‘Slut’ if they Have Sex on a Hookup, ‘Bitch’ or ‘Prude’ if they Don’t,” by Michelle J. Cera, Jessie Ford, and Paula England.

“Contexts Hall of Fame Award,” by the Editors.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Segregation by Sexuality in the United States,” by Braxton Jones.

“The High Rate of Bereavement among African Americans,” by Megan Peterson.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images talks white tears in Trumpville and how ‘cosmopolitan’ became a slur.
• Engaging Sports details the Colin Kaepernick saga and the (a)political white athlete.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies expresses optimism surrounding the Rwandan presidential election.
• Families As They Really Are reflects on the definition of family in the era of genetic ancestry tests.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book

Before you head out to enjoy the last few weeks of summer, catch up on our latest pieces, including the history of “law and order” rhetoric, the motivating factor behind bicycle commuting, and why men are still avoiding “pink collar” occupations.

There’s Research on That!:

“Political Protest and the Call for Law and Order,” by Amber Joy Powell. With Trump and the NRA’s recent calls for “law and order,” we look to historical social science that reveals how this strategy has worked in the past.

Discoveries:

“Which Comes First: Bikers or Bike Paths?” by Jacqui Frost. New research in Social Forces finds that bike baths can induce biking, and vice versa, but there is a third important variable driving both — local environmentalism.

Clippings:

“Why Men Continue to Avoid “Pink Collar” Jobs,” by Edgar Campos. Ofer Sharone and Janette S. Dill help Slate understand why women still dominate certain occupational sectors, even when male-dominated manual labor jobs are declining.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“Changing the World, One Website at a Time,” by Mark R. Rank.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Social Ties and Poverty: An interview with Joan Maya Mazelis,” by Arielle Kuperberg.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Toolbox provides a paper assignment for your class on affirmative action in colleges.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies reads genocide literature in middle and high school classrooms.
• Sociological Images explains why men avoid ball-kicking to protect the myth of masculinity.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book

Hello! We’ve got some great new stuff for you this week, including a new special feature on listening to Latinx queers, a new Discovery about stalled school desegregation, and a look at marriage among trans men and women. Take a look!

TSP Special Features:

“Learning from Pulse, Listening to Latinx Queers,” by Greggor Mattson. In our latest special feature, Mattson previews some of his new research on changes in gay bar culture and the ways that the Pulse nightclub shootings highlighted racial divisions and exclusions within the LGBTQ community.

Discoveries:

“White Flight Stalls Desegregation in Schools,” by Caity Curry. New research in Social Forces finds that desegregation gains made in the formative years following Board v. Brown may have been superseded by a “post-desegregation status quo”.

Clippings:

“Farmers Concerned About Healthcare Costs,” by Caity Curry. Shoshanah Inwood talks to Vermont Public Radio about serious concerns regarding healthcare among American farmers.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Does Marriage Matter? A Look at Married Trans Women and Men,” by Braxton Jones.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology explains why social media platforms shouldn’t ban adult content.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies interviews Philip Spencer about why left-wing antisemitism is dangerous.
• Families As They Really Are talks whether paid family leave is an entitlement or investment.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book

Hello and happy Friday all! This week we’ve got sociological takes on the “glocalization” of soccer, trans admittance policies at women’s colleges, and Trump’s fluid masculinities. See all that and more below.

There’s Research on That!:

“The “Glocalization” of Soccer in America,” by Edgar Campos. When the global and the local meet, aspects of a global game that many fans adore can be overshadowed by local flare.

Discoveries:

“How Women’s Colleges Construct Gender,” by Allison Nobles. New research in Gender & Society looks at the ways trans students are selectively admitted into women’s colleges.

Clippings:

“How Businesses Benefit From Immigrant Exploitation,” by Edgar Campos. The Huffington Post looks to Tanya Golash-Boza to explain the “immigrant industrial complex” in the U.S.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Kids Today: New Data on Teens, Sex, and Contraceptive Use,” by Tasia Clemons.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Engaging Sports remembers Wimbledon’s role in the movement for “open tennis”.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies talks to Timothy Snyder about Holocaust memory in Europe.
• Families As They Really Are explains how family budget calculators highlight policy concerns.
• Feminist Reflections reflects on Trump and the politics of fluid masculinities.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book

Hey everyone! We’ve got some great new stuff for you this week, including pieces on bipartisan colorblindess and a proposal to credentialize panhandlers. And be sure to wish Lisa Wade and everyone over at Sociological Images a happy 10th anniversary. They helped pave the way for TSP and many others, so let’s all show them some love!

There’s Research on That!:

“How Racial Minorities Are Excluded from Being ‘American’,” by Allison Nobles. The 4th of July celebrates the U.S. and its freedoms, but social science shows that racial and ethnic minorities are excluded from many of them.

Discoveries:

“Bipartisan Colorblindness,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. New research in The Sociological Quarterly reveals that both liberals and conservatives draw on colorblind rhetoric to contruct their moral identities.

Clippings:

“Credentials for Panhandlers?,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Over at The Conversation, Brendan O’Flaherty and Gwendolyn Dordick propose offering credentials for panhandlers instead of tightening restrictions on them.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Opioids, Health Care Denial, and a World of Pain,” by Megan Peterson.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images celebrates their 10 year anniversary this month. Congrats Soc Images! And this week they explore how LSD opened minds and changed America.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies remembers Simone Veil (1927-2017).
• Families As They Really Are revisits making men visible in nursing and reproductive health.
• Cyborgology talks sex workers’ concerns about Snapchat’s Snap Map.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book

Happy July everyone! This week we’ve got new pieces on how moving affects adolescents, how gangs use social media, how marital status affects voting behavior, and much more. So grab yourself a summer drink and soak in some sociology.

There’s Research on That!:

“Gangs on Social Media,” by Caity Curry. Social science shows that gang members use social media to promote their gang identity and gain notoriety, but the social organization of gangs determines their online behavior.

Discoveries:

“How Moving Affects Adolescent Delinquency,” by Amber Joy Powell. New research in Social Forces finds that the more adolescents move, the more likely they are to engage in delinquent behavior.

Clippings:

“Why Single Women are More Likely to Vote for Liberal Candidates,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Leah Ruppanner, Kelsy Kretschmer, and Christopher Stout explain how marital status influences voting habits in RawStory.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Religion: Greater Acceptance, Persisting Antipathy since Civil Rights Era,” by Jerry Park, Joshua Tom, and Brita Andercheck.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Families As They Really Are revisits multiracial dividends and persistent hierarchies.
• Engaging Sports talks sport behind bars and the 20th Jewish Olympics.
• Sociological Images explains how algorithms replace your biases with someone else’s and asks if liberals are happier than conservatives.
• Cyborgology talks sexual harassment at Exxxotica and Twitter as a form of resistance.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book

Hello and happy Friday all. This week we’ve got some great new pieces on the geography of punishment, the perennial disappointments of professional sports fans, and five viewpoints on whitewashing the working class.

There’s Research on That!:

“How Geography Structures Punishment,” by Veronica Horowitz. Reflecting on the new public tool “Measures for Justice,” we look at the importance of geography in structuring disadvantage and procedural justice.

Discoveries:

“Coping Strategies Among Undocumented Young Adults,” by Amber Joy Powell. New research in Social Problems finds that networking with peers of similar legal statuses may help empower young undocumented adults to develop positive coping strategies.

Clippings:

“Everyday Racism in Canada,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. The Miami Herald talks to Cheryl Teelucksingh about the resurgence of everyday racism in Canada.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“Viewpoints: Whitewashing the Working Class”

• Culture Trumps Class by Robert B. Horwitz
• Hate the Game by Victor Tan Chen
• White Lives Matter? by Matthew W. Hughey
• Anti-Institutionalism and Political Rebellion by Jason Eastman
• The Grievances of the White Working Class by Katherine J. Cramer

“Photographs of the Mind,” by Mark Andres.

“Success and Failure in Framing Social Movements,” by Danielle Koonce.

“How Grown Siblings Divide Care Work,” by Carrie Clarady.

“Long-term Job Insecurity is Depressing,” by Rose Malinowski Weingartner.

“Marriage and the Genetic Risk of Depression,” by Justin Maietta.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Revisit: Yo! Is this the author of This Chair Rocks?,” by Molly McNulty.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• The Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies rethinks Holocaust art and contemporary responses.
• Engaging Sports argues professional sports fans will always be disappointed.
• Sociological Images asks if it’s ethical to give your child ‘every advantage’.
• Cyborgology talks non-consensual pornography and bodily integrity.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book

Happy third day of summer everyone! This week we’ve got a new podcast interview with Michael Schudson and new sociological takes on violence against minority youth, veganism, and the bail industry. See all that and more below.

Office Hours:

“Michael Schudson on The News Media,” with j. Siguru Wahutu. In our latest podcast episode, we talk with Schudson about the history of news, the legacy of Watergate, and how the public makes sense of news today.

There’s Research on That!:

“Framing Violence against Minority Youth,” by Amber Joy Powell. Sociological research on youth victimization finds that minority youth are often excluded from the category of “true” or “ideal” victimhood, which ultimately works to legitimize their victimization.

Clippings:

“The Cultural Contexts of Veganism,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Harvard Magazine details Nina Gheihman’s research on the evolving meanings of and motivations for veganism.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

The Spring 2017 issue is here! See here for a look at what will be in the new issue and see below for a preview of the new content.

“Desperation and Service in the Bail Industry,” by Joshua Page.

“Measuring Race to Measure Inequality,” by Lucia Lykke.

“In Defense of Alternative Facts,” by Kelly Beavan.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Millennials Changing Binaries (in more ways than one, of course),” by Braxton Jones.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Families As They Really Are talks moving from legal to economic equality for LGBT people.
• Sociological Images investigates whether or not millennials are having less sex and explains the concept of “voluntary conformism.”
• Engaging Sports asks whether female bodybuilders are accepting or subverting norms of femininity.

Last Week’s Roundup

Sign Up for Inbox Delivery of the Roundup

Our Latest Book