And here we thought it was just impolite to point at others… Since the last roundup, we weathered #pointergate, talked about bodies, learned that heterosexual marriages really are getting more egalitarian, and chatted up Michael Burawoy, that pioneering public sociologist. Binge read or save for the week, all we ask is that you share. TSP is free and accessible, and we want the whole world to put on their SocGoggles!

Features:

“Troubling Bodies with Natalie Boero, C.J. Pascoe, and Abigail Saguy,” by Kyle Green. Too fat, too thin, unhealthy, brawny, boney, slutty, boyish, zaftig, and puny. Our societies have a lot to say about bodies; sociologists have a few comments of their own.

There’s Research on That!

“#pointergate, Moral Panic, and Online Protest,” by Jack Delahanty. Media goes for sensationalism and social media allows marginalized groups to have bigger voices. Somewhere in the middle, a Minneapolis police group got the “outrage” they wanted and a backlash they didn’t expect.

“Harassment Online and On the Street,” by Evan Stewart. Bullying, cat-calling, and the policing of norms and hierarchies—how discrimination and power combine in routine harassment.

“Studying Whiteness: Not Beyond the Pale,” by Stephen Suh. When “white” is the neutral, default, or unmarked racial category, it’s easy to argue that society is “beyond race.”

“Foraging in the Urban Jungle: Food Security and Homelessness,” by Matt Gunther. A police captain from Cincinnati says “don’t feed the bears [homeless people],” and at least 21 American cities agree. But does helping hunger really hinder social mobility?

The Reading List:

“Second-Generation Schooling: Good News for Girls,” by Amy August. Sociology of Education reports that girls, given the opportunity to succeed, will seize it.

Office Hours:

“Michael Burawoy on Global Social Movements,” with Erik Kojola. Exploring the future of social movements research within modern public universities.

The Editors’ Desk:

“Facebook, Feelings, and Flight Attendants,” by Doug Hartmann. The managed heart at 50,000 feet and among 5 billion “friends.”

“Face Work from Zellweger to Goffman,” by Doug Hartmann. Wearing our selves on our sleeves (if not our faces).

Teaching TSP:

“Mediating Media Responses to Tragedy: Considering How Social Science Could Influence Policy.” An activity for talking through mass shootings in their cultural contexts.

“Politics and Power.” Using Vincent Roscigno’s “Power, Sociologically Speaking” to debate popular notions of what power is, does, and should be.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Not Just Attitudes: Marriage is Also Becoming More Egalitarian,” by Christine R. Schwartz.

“Trends in Global Gender Equity: Progress and Disappointments from around the World,” by Stephanie Seguino.

Scholars Strategy Network:

“$2-a-Day Poverty in the United States,” by Luke Shaefer and Kathryn Edin.

“Why America’s Food Is Still Not Safe,” by Adam Sheingate.

“Forward or Back on Voting Rights? A Research Compendium,” by the Scholars Strategy Network.

A Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociology Source wonders if common sense is a straw man for sociologists.
• Feminist Reflections notices it’s been a while since President George H.W. Bush said “this gender thing is history.” Is it? And while they’re at it, is a lack of “marriageable men” a bigger problem than high-powered careers when it comes to women delaying child-bearing?
• Girl w/ Pen! brings in Andrew Lazaro Lopez to talk queer sexism.
• Cyborgology on net neutrality and the price of participation and BuzzFeed’s #Halloween #RaceFail.

Last Week’s Roundup

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