Election? Where?

After last week’s flurry of activity, perhaps a rush to get information to our eager readership (indulge me here) before the American general election that’s now just a few days past (unless you happen to live in Florida), things at The Society Pages have returned to a more reasonable, measured pace. That isn’t, however, to say we’ve gone slack; indeed, this week has brought a broad look at the underpinnings of and possible challenges to power, alongside thoughtful teaching activities and solid advice on just what color tracksuit your dog or cat might require. There’s a lot going on—have a look!

Features:

“Power, Sociologically Speaking,” by Vincent J. Roscigno. In which the author reveals power’s institutional practices, cultural supports, and alternative routes.

Editors’ Desk:

“(Reading) Listomania,” by Chris Uggen. In which the editor explains the process behind our popular Reading List and wonders why anyone would join “Team That Other Guy.”

Citings & Sightings:

“The Island of Life,” by Hollie Nyseth Brehm. In which our graduate student editor reads the New York Times, discovers her lifelong purpose, and buys a plane ticket to Ikaria.

Teaching TSP:

“Using Political Commentaries to Teach Contentious Issues–Marriage Amendment Activity,” by Kia Heise. In which a Sociology of Family instructor brings a political hot potato into her classroom and lives to tell the tale.

“Sociology in the News,” by Hollie Nyseth Brehm. In which Brehm demonstrates one way to get a classroom thinking like our Citings & Sightings team.

A Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images. Lisa Wade shows how even pets and cars need to be color-coded, while Gwen Sharp updates the map of marriage equality after Tuesday’s election and shares a treasure trove of Vintage Anti-Suffrage Postcards showing just how dangerous women voters could be (as one organization put it this year, “The 19th [amendment] gets you 20 [women in Congress]).
• ThickCulture. Jose Marichal and Rahuldeep Gill talk about the presidential debates, while Kenneth M. Kambara makes his electoral college predictions (for the record, a 294-244 Obama win, with an unlikely chance for a 279-259 Romney victory).
• Graphic Sociology. Laura Noren reviews infographic wunderkind Nathan Yau’s Visualize This and analyzes what works and what does not in a New York Times graphic showing the evolution of political attitudes from 2004-2012.
• Sociology Lens. The Wiley Blackwell Community Page updates its look at gender, sexuality, and the HPV vaccine with Part II.

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Time Does Not Heal All Wounds: Psychological Problems for Poor Mothers Five Years After Hurricane Katrina,” by Elizabeth Fussell, Jean E. Rhodes, and Mary C. Waters. Looking at the long term effects of natural disaster.

“Why Does U.S. Politics Tilt Toward the Wealthy?” by Lisa Disch. The 2012 campaign cycle is estimated to have cost nearly $6 trillion across all races. Do you need money to hold power?