New & Noteworthy

TSP’s Jordyn Wald has a new StoryMap on Law Enforcement and Body-Cams. It covers research on body-cams and its increasing use by police, improved accountability and reduced complaints, but their impact on excessive force and arrests varies depending on activation policies and usage.

Our latest Clippings by Mallory Harrington covers recent sociology and sociologists in the news, including stalled workplace gender equality, exploitation of undocumented agricultural workers, hidden societal harms in technological innovation, shifting caregiving norms among older couples, and the need for public collaboration in environmental regeneration and family farming.

The TSP podcast team has a new episode for your listening pleasure. Produced by Forrest Lovette, this episode includes Emma Goldstein, Mason Jones, and Leo LaBarre discussing older adult cohabitation from a recent The New York Times article featuring Deborah Carr and Susan Brown.

From the Archives

Last week, backed by the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims, the satirical news publication The Onion won the bid for Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction. Amber Joy Powell’s TROT from 2017 discusses the media coverage of mass shootings since Columbine.

New Zealand opposition party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke led a Haka chant in the parliament chambers in protest of a bill reinterpretation of the country’s founding treaty with the Māori people. Although New Zealand is considered a leader in indigenous rights, opposers of this bill say that it would put their rights at risk. In the American context, we recently celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day – read our 2017 piece by Allison Nobles that covers some research on this holiday.

Consistent with other research, a recent NIH-backed study shows that women are less likely than men to meet the standard recommendation for weekly aerobic exercise. Many experts attribute this gender gap, in part, to the disproportionate time women spend on caregiving and household responsibilities. To learn more about how societal expectations and structural factors affect progress toward gender equality in sports and other fields, check out this 2017 Sociological Images article.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Contexts:

• fall 2024 table of contents includes 25 pieces on a range of topics – check them out!
• letter from the editors: fall 2024 by Amin Ghaziani and Seth Abrutyn highlight the Contexts Fall 2024 edition, which celebrates the vibrancy of social life, from Pride parades and diasporic joy to workplace challenges, urban regulation, and much more.
• same behavior, different meaning by Parker Muzzerall covers research by Terence McDonnell, Anna Gabur, and Rachel Keynton on how the cultural politics of climate change show that conservative consumers increasingly adopt electric vehicles, not for climate action, but for cost-saving and freedom, highlighting the importance of framing climate-friendly practices in culturally resonant ways.

Council on Contemporary Families

• Labor Pains: Parents’ Wages in Care Work by Alyssa Alexander and Anna Manzoni on their research on care work, and how it remains undervalued and deeply gendered, with mothers facing significant wage penalties, especially in care-related fields, while societal biases continue to disadvantage women, mothers of color, and fathers of color.

New & Noteworthy

Tressie McMillan Cottom (Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina’s School of Information and Library Science) wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times in the aftermath of the presidential election. “[T]his election was about enthusiasm and diagnoses. The long-term trajectory of our country has not changed. Millions of middle-class people feel working-class. These Americans have no way to describe what is happening to them,” Cottom described. “Nature abhors a vacuum. But political opportunists thrive in vacuums. This election was about who told a better story about the fundamentals without promising anything to fix those fundamentals. That is the sweet spot for an opportunist like Trump and his party. Sell everything, promise nothing. Keep them coming back for more.” Cottom was also recently on The Daily Show.

From the Archives

The 2024 election has left women’s health in an even more uncertain place, as seen with the failure of pro-abortion ballot measures in three states and Trump’s remark that vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. would “work on women’s health” in his administration. The root of poor health outcomes for U.S. women isn’t just medical—it’s systemic. Inequities shape everything from research that sidelines women’s needs to restrictive laws that worsen health outcomes for all. Check out this post from the Council on Contemporary Families to learn more about the deep-rooted issues impacting women’s health in the U.S. and what is required for real change.

On Wednesday afternoon two people started a demonstration at Texas State University, holding signs and wearing shirts that said “women are property” and “homo sex is sin”. The demonstration sparked a counter-protest of hundreds of students, and images and videos of the demonstration quickly went viral. This 2017 Contexts piece talks about the importance of the media in increasing the reach and impact of protests.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Contexts:

• paying attention. period. by Sophie X. Liu on research by Rita Jalali on menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) and how it has been largely neglected in global health agendas due to challenges in measurability and enduring social stigmas, highlighting how inequality within social movements has sidelined issues affecting economically disadvantaged communities.

Council on Contemporary Families

• Parents’ Divisions of Childcare and Housework Remarkably Stable Throughout Pandemic by Richard J. Petts and Daniel L. Carlson covers their recent research in Demographic Research on how despite the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, most U.S. parents maintained their pre-pandemic division of housework and childcare, with some shifts towards more equal childcare sharing, especially influenced by fathers’ remote work and mothers’ employment.

New & Noteworthy

Political memes and jokes connect people with candidates, encourage engagement, and make complex issues more accessible. Humor can rally supporters, soften criticism, and reveal tensions in a way that feels less confrontational. Yet, it also risks misinterpretation, losing impact if it feels insincere or too harsh. Check out TSP Board member Jordyn Wald‘s Humor and Memes in Politics during your monitoring of election day results.

What “They” Don’t Want You to Know About Conspiracy Theories by S Ericson covers society’s belief in conspiracy theories, often fueled by mistrust in powerful institutions and rising during uncertain times. These theories suggest hidden groups control events, and as people share them online, they spread across different issues and become part of popular thinking.

Our weekly Clippings includes a piece from The Atlantic with Julia Sonnevend on her new book on political charm, Charm: How Magnetic Personalities Shape Global Politics, noting how charm fosters a sense of authenticity through media proximity, unlike charisma. City Journal reviewed Musa Al-Gharbi’s We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite, critiquing progressive elites’ disconnect from marginalized communities. Laura Patterson explained in CPR News how horror films create a “safe space” to experience empathy and connection, resonating amid industry shifts. El País reported on young people seeking alternative work as a response to unstable traditional jobs, with Mariano Urraco Solanilla describing the search for control. Lastly, The New York Times covered Arlie Russell Hochschild’s Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right, which examines the economic decline of non-college-educated white men and its impact on their sense of purpose.

From the Archives

Residents in Spain, Valencia experienced a series of floods and the death tolls have increased into the hundreds. Thousands are going without reliable access to food and water, with the hardest hit areas being unable to be accessed. Learn about The Emotional Toll of Natural Disasters from our 2018 piece by Jasmine Syed.

The New York Times put a spotlight on Alabama’s prison labor program, where incarcerated workers face harsh conditions, little to no pay, and punishment for resistance. Learn more about the complexities of prison labor and the fight for reform in our 2018 piece covering research on this topic by Isabel Arriagada, Pushing Back on Prison Labor.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Contexts:

• Our Forests, Ourselves by Colter J. Uscola explores Nihan Bozok’s study of rural Turkish women who lead deforestation protests along the Aegean Coast. Bozok reveals how forests are vital to these women’s identities and communities, showing that true environmental protection comes from empowering those most connected to the land.
• Saving Money, Saving Relationships by Elena G. Van Stee summarizes Kristen McNeill and Rachael Pierotti’s study on how people in Côte d’Ivoire use “earmarking”—explaining that money is already set aside—to politely refuse requests for financial help. This approach allows them to protect both their savings and their relationships, showing that earmarking serves as a valuable strategy for balancing financial boundaries.

Council on Contemporary Families:

• How the Real Estate Industry May Make Community Tensions Worse in Mixed-Income Neighborhoods by Mahesh Somashekhar highlights how real estate ads focusing on home security can deepen divisions in mixed-income areas, signaling safety for wealthier renters and unintentionally pushing out lower-income residents.

First Publics:

• Making Adopted Activities Work for You by Megan Y. Phillips offers practical tips for integrating active learning activities into classes without starting from scratch. Phillips emphasizes modifying existing activities to fit your class’s time, size, and context, along with setting aside time to review takeaways with students to ensure they grasp the purpose.

(P.S. >> don’t forget to vote!)

New & Noteworthy

A dark fascination with the paranormal grips society during this spooky time of year, drawing many into the “cultic milieu,” where interest in beliefs of witchcraft, astrology, and hauntings thrive. These subcultures defy mainstream science and religion, offering alternative answers and forming tight-knit communities on the cultural margins. Read this captivating summary of some sociology on the paranormal’s influence on modern culture in “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” by Jordyn Wald, Mallory Harrington, and Nicole Schmitgen.

The Washington Post highlighted the struggles of older adults with cognitive impairments or dementia who live alone in the U.S., with Professor Elena Portacolone of UCSF explaining how many lack family caregivers, making them an “invisible population” at risk in the healthcare system. In The New York Review, Matthew Desmond of Princeton University discussed urgent housing crisis solutions for the next U.S. administration, urging relief programs for the homeless, restoration of deteriorating housing, zoning reform, and new construction.  Arts Hub and University of Sydney News covered research by Sanné Mestrom and Indigo Willing, revealing how skatable public art structures can foster urban play and inclusivity. Meanwhile, Ilana M. Horwitz of Tulane University explored Jewish Americans’ varied support for the Black Lives Matter movement, as different affiliations influence their views on race and justice, reported in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Lastly, Yale News reported on Ángel Escamilla García‘s study on young Central American migrants’ strategies to minimize deportation risk, as they navigate U.S. immigration laws with help from migrant shelters, social media, and fellow migrants. See our weekly Clippings here.

Interest in alternative approaches to justice grows as the limitations of traditional punishment become more apparent, especially for minoritized communities. Restorative Justice (RJ) offers a transformative way to address harm by focusing on healing, accountability, and community cohesion, rather than punishment through fines and incarceration. Evidence shows RJ reduces recidivism, lowers costs, and provides greater satisfaction for victims, with successful adoption in over 80 countries. Discover how RJ is reshaping justice globally in our new ‘There’s Research on That’, “Restorative Justice” by me.

From the Archives

Millions of Americans have already participated in the 2024 election by casting their ballots either by mail or through early in-person voting. This 2012 Sociological Images article by Gwen Sharp discusses how early and absentee voting options have changed the traditional focus on Election Day in the U.S.

Feeling stressed out by the state of the world and the upcoming election? You’re not alone: research shows that many people are trying to avoid the news. Check out this summary of social science research on news avoidance, written by Nick Mathews.

Earlier this week the Department of Transportation fined American Airlines $50 million for repeated violations of laws protecting the rights and safety of passengers with disabilities. The DOT’s investigation found that American Airlines was responsible for the mishandling and damage of thousands of wheelchairs over the past four years, as well as cases where passengers with disabilities were mistreated. Read this Sociological Images 2015 piece by Lisa Wade on accessibility and the ADA.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Contexts:

• career choices at a crossroads by Joyce Kim covers her research on how many first-generation, low-income students at elite universities, face pressures to “sell out” by pursuing high-paying jobs in finance, consulting, and tech to support their families, despite ethical or personal concerns. Redefining post-graduation success means supporting these students in finding career paths aligned with their values, not just high salaries.

Council on Contemporary Families:

• Alicia Walker interviews Emily K. Carian on her new book, Good Guys, Bad Guys: The Perils of Men’s Gender Activism which explores how both feminist men and men’s rights activists engage in gender activism as a way to reconcile their privileged status, though feminist men often prioritize reshaping their own identities over effective activism, inadvertently sustaining gender inequality.

First Publics:

• Engaging Elections: Political responsibility in the classroom covers how Sociology instructors work to balance political responsibility by equipping students with analytical tools for critical thinking and respectful dialogue, all while fostering a supportive learning environment. Check out the recent recording of their webinar here.

New & Noteworthy

A growing online movement, the “manosphere,” fuels gender-based culture wars by promoting misogynistic beliefs. These subcultures, including Incels and MGTOW, view society as a “Gynocracy” where men are oppressed by women. United by the “Red Pill” metaphor from the Matrix, these groups reject feminist ideas and spread misinformation, often using violent language. As their influence grows, the masosphere’s impact on politics and recruitment of young men continues to rise. View our new “StoryMap” of this important research by Jordyn Wald, S Ericson, and Caroline Garland.

This week, Roger Southall wrote in The Conversation about the challenges of reducing class inequalities in South Africa despite recent economic improvements. Meanwhile, The New York Times  covered global fertility rates, featuring insights from Kumiko Nemoto and Ylva Moberg on gender and childcare in Japan and Sweden. Scott Scheiman discussed Kamala Harris’s pro-work message amidst economic pessimism in The Conversation, and Eve Ewing moderated a panel with Ta-Nehisi Coates and Rami Nashashibi at the Chicago Humanities Festival on nationalism and oppression, as covered by The TRiiBE. Lastly, Taipei Times  highlighted Po-fen Tai’s new book, The Last Female Miner: Haishan Mines and a Sociologist’s Exploration of her Miner Grandmother’s Life, on women in Taiwan’s mining industry. See our weekly Clippings here.

From the Archives

Victoria’s Secret just had their first runway show after a 6 year hiatus. The brand had seemed to lose its appeal in the late 2010s after facing accusations of hypersexualization of women, ageism, a lack of models of color, and a lack of size inclusivity. It has yet to be seen whether this revival of a once-iconic show will pose a turnaround for a brand that has struggled to modernize its portrayals of beauty and sexuality. Check out two Sociological Images pieces, When Whiteness is the Standard of Beauty and Beauty and the Double Standard of Aging by Lisa Wade to inform yourself on the beauty conversation.

With 19,521 fans filling Target Center for Game 3 of the WNBA finals, the Minnesota Lynx set a new franchise attendance record, signaling the continued rise in popularity of women’s sports. This 2024 Special Feature by Cheryl Cooky highlights the growing interest in women’s sports, pointing out how this moment could represent a shift toward greater visibility, investment, and equality.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Contexts:

• are you holding? by Sophie X. Liu covers how escrow systems in cryptomarkets reduce trust and sales by increasing prices and undermining informal social control among drug traders, according to a study by Filippo Andrei and colleagues.

Council on Contemporary Families:

• Alicia Walker talks with JPB Gerald in an interview about his new book Embracing the Exceptions, which highlights the unique challenges neurodivergent students of color face in education, emphasizing the need for teachers to embrace students’ diverse experiences and release rigid control to promote equity and success.

New & Noteworthy

TSP Board member Shania Kuo writes up research by Patrick Krueger and colleagues’ in a new Discovery. This piece highlights that while working parents lose sleep (especially those with young children) their physical activity remains steady or even increases as they intentionally incorporate exercise into family time. The study emphasizes the current resilience of parents and the need for better parental leave policies/support services to help parents balance work and caregiving.

Our latest Clippings of Sociology in the news by Mallory Harrington features Liz McKenna in Forbes discussing Barack Obama joining Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail, drawing parallels between Harris’s current momentum and Obama’s 2008 grassroots efforts.Matthew Desmond spoke on WYPR about the roots of poverty in America and the role affluent individuals play in its continuation.  The Wall Street Journal reviewed Born to Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite by  Aaron Reeves and Sam Freidman, which explores the lasting power of the British elite. Rima Majed, in an interview with Democracy Now, discussed Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and the region’s continued resistance movements. Meanwhile, the Hindustan Times highlighted Neetu Batra’s insights on active aging in India, where many seniors are redefining retirement by embracing new hobbies and careers.

From the Archives

For a deep dive into the realities of voter suppression and the myths of voter fraud, check out Neeraj Rajasekar’s piece, The Fantasy of Voter Fraud & The Reality of Voter Suppression. This article breaks down research that demonstrates how voter fraud is nearly nonexistent, while voter suppression, particularly through felony disenfranchisement and strict ID laws, skews election outcomes by disproportionately affecting minority groups.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green, have made claims that the U.S. government can control the weather and engineered Hurricane Milton. Check out his Sociological Images article by Evan Stewart from 2017, discussing important sociological findings about how low institutional trust fuels belief in conspiracy theories with, both liberals and conservatives being susceptible, often driven by feelings of powerlessness rather than pure partisanship.

This week, the CDC released data from the first nationally representative survey on transgender students. It found that 3.3 percent of high school students identify as transgender, with an additional 2.2 percent questioning their gender identity. Among other findings, the survey reveals that transgender and gender-questioning teens face significantly higher levels of bullying, sadness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to their peers. To learn more about transgender teens’ experiences, check out the Council on Contemporary Families’ interview with Tey Meadow, sociologist and author of Trans Kids: Being Gendered in the 21st Century.

Backstage with TSP

Behind the scenes at TSP we are constantly brainstorming and piloting new ideas and creative ways to share sociology with the world. Currently, we have some “StoryMaps” and new video ideas that you may see soon! Stay tuned.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Contexts:

• making merit by Elena G. van Steev covers a recent study by Sam Friedman and colleagues on how elites in the UK define merit as innate talent, while Danish elites emphasize hard work, yet both perspectives justify inequality in their respective societies.
• a broader look at the housing crisis by Parker Muzzerall summarizes a study by Carl Gershenson and Matthew Desmond highlights how the rental housing crisis is affecting rural America, revealing that racial and class disparities in evictions, similar to those in urban areas, are also prevalent in rural regions.

Council on Contemporary Families:

• Alicia Walker talks with Nicole Bedera’s new book On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors, which exposes how universities prioritize protecting perpetrators over supporting survivors of sexual violence. Bedera discusses how Title IX processes often fail survivors, retraumatizing them while neglecting their educational needs, and offers insights on how independent third parties could reclaim the mission of Title IX to ensure justice and safety on campuses.

First Publics:

• Engaging Elections: Keeping the US elections in context covers more insights from the recent webinar Engaging Elections: The Politics of Teaching as Public Sociology. Panelists discussed using case studies and local contexts to make complex political theories relatable, with Cedric de Leon offering examples of how campus symbols can engage students in understanding macro-level theories through their lived experiences. Watch it here.

New & Noteworthy

Shania Kuo and Eleanor Nickel’s latest ‘There’s Research on That’ explores the “model minority” myth and its role in perpetuating the discrimination Asian Americans face in the workplace. While Asian Americans are overrepresented in professional fields like tech, law, and business, they remain underrepresented in leadership due to stereotypes that cast them as submissive and unfit for managerial roles, creating a “bamboo ceiling.” Additionally, the intersection of race and gender further complicates their advancement, with Asian American women often facing gendered discrimination that undermines their authority.

This week’s Clippings includes Arlie Russell Hochschild in Salon discussing how former president Donald Trump appeals to white, working-class voters by fostering a sense of pride, despite his policies not materially benefiting them. The New York Times covered the 2024 MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius’ fellowship recipients, highlighting sociologists Loka Ashwood, Ruha Benjamin, and Dorothy Roberts, who are tackling environmental justice, technological inequalities, and racial disparities in social service systems. Diario de Cuba featured Helen Ochoa Calvo on the Cuban “migration crisis,” focusing on the distressing separation of families as many Cubans leave the country.

From the Archives

Migration at the U.S. southern border remains a key issue, with recent policies in the media cycle. For insights on how the 2024 election may shape migration for the next 4 years, explore Lucas Lynch’s ‘There’s Research on That’ for some notable social science research on the topic.

The WNBA playoffs has received heightened visibility, and sparked increased online racism and misogyny. Revisit this 2020 Engaging Sports piece, Being a Basketball Fan During the Black Lives Matter Movement and a Global Pandemic, by Aaron L. Miller and Ziggy Tummalapalli on how basketball players are using their platform to fight against racial injustice.

Fans have a tendency to form emotional attachments with their favorite (or least favorite) professional athletes – as highlighted by recent high-profile trades. Check out this Engaging Sports piece, Professional Sports Fans Will Always Be Disappointed, by Jeffrey Montez de Oca.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Contexts:

• we have never been woke: a q&a with musa al-gharbi talks with Elena G. van Steev on his new book, We Have Never Been Woke, explores how a new “woke” elite, despite advocating for social justice, perpetuates inequality while benefiting from their elite status.

Council on Contemporary Families:

• Alicia M. Walker talks with Michelle Janning on her new book, Investing in Enchantment, explores how family vacation homes are romanticized as magical spaces for creating treasured memories, despite the underlying realities of market-driven pressures and family labor.

First Publics:

• In a recent First Publics webinar, Engaging Elections: Making Sense of Student Engagement, panelists discussed the tension between student apathy and political engagement, emphasizing the importance of local activism and strategies like get-out-the-vote campaigns to help students connect their immediate concerns with broader political systems.

New & Noteworthy

Eleanor Nickel’s latest Discovery features research by Megan C. Kurlychek, Matthew C. Kijowski, and Alysha M. Gagnon, which investigates the long-term impacts of placing youth in adult criminal justice systems.

This week’s Clippings includes Blake R. Silver in The Conversation on how public higher education creates uncertainty for students, Elizabeth Vaquera in GW Today discussing how Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are appealing to Latino voters, Brooke Harrington on C-SPAN about offshore finance and its economic impact on smaller nations, Jake Rosenfeld in The New York Times on how labor unions are supporting moderate Republican lawmakers, Parker Muzzerall in The Conversation examining oil and gas workers’ responses to Canada’s net-zero energy economy, and Ryan Larson on MPR discussing the mental health effects of the George Floyd murder on Minneapolis residents.

From the Archives

Gen Z has long been attacked for their alleged poor work and school performance. If you are a Social Science teacher, consider this recent First Publics suggested read for “renewable assignments”.

Last week Marcellus Williams was executed in Missouri – even though the prosecutor had filed a request to overturn his wrongful conviction. Learn more about Racial Bias and the Death Penalty from our ‘There’s Research on That’ by Allison Nobles or by listening to this Office Hours podcast episode with David Garland on his 2012 book Peculiar Institution: America’s Death Penalty in an Age of Abolition.

Two high profile cases (one against Diddy and the other in France against 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot) are in the news cycle. Revisit a ‘There’s Research on That’ from 2017 on rape culture during the #MeToo movement to compare the past to the present.

Backstage with TSP

We have several new areas of development. Storymaps, podcasts, and new social media content are coming soon! For our new board members, we have introduced the Discovery process and are working on our TROTs next.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Council on Contemporary Families:

• 3 Questions Gretchen Sisson by Alicia M. Walker with Gretchen Sisson and her new book, Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood, which explores the complex realities and contradictions of adoption in the U.S., challenging common myths and highlighting the system’s ties to inequality and constrained choices.

New & Noteworthy

Daniel Cueto-Villalobos‘s latest Discovery on research by Ioana Sendroiu on how small business during COVID-19 navigated the balance between keeping their doors open, and protecting the public. The study found that many small business owners prioritized public health and employee well-being over profits, navigating moral dilemmas beyond partisan divides.

This week’s Clippings of sociology in the news includes Melissa Milkie and Kei Nomaguchi in The New York Times on the mental health impacts of intensive parenting, Amanda Miller on 21 Alive News discussing the effects of police-action shootings, Laura K. Nelson and Alexandra Brewer in The Economic Times on how women receive less clear feedback at work, and Neil Gross in The New York Times on the debate over “viewpoint diversity” in academia.

From the Archives

Discussions on women’s health and morality have intensified, especially around pregnancy. Sociologists point to how cultural ideals of motherhood put women – especially poor women of color – under increased scrutiny. Learn more in this TROT by Allison Nobles.

The US recently ranked last among 10 developed nations in healthcare. Check out this Discovery by Amy August from ~10 years ago on where things were then.

Last week, Yale, Princeton, and Duke were quested over the decline in Asian Students. Read our recent Discovery by Shania Kuo on research about Asian Student’s views towards affirmative action.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Council on Contemporary Families:

• Did the global pandemic of COVID-19 change the division of labor at home? by F. Kubra Aytac, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted persistent gender disparities in household and childcare responsibilities, with mothers bearing a disproportionate share, particularly in collectivistic cultures like Turkey.

First Publics:

• Toward a Better Vision of Classical Sociological Theory by Seth Abrutyn writes about how soc theory should be taught through a fresh, practical approach that links classical ideas with contemporary research, making it more relevant, engaging, and connected to students’ lived experiences and sociological inquiry – providing 2 approaches.

New & Noteworthy

This week’s Clippings of sociology in the news includes Julia Sonnevend in Public Seminar on her new book Charm: How Magnetic Personalities Shape Global Politics, Eric Klinenberg in the New York Times on the dangerousness of heat waves,  Fraya Frehse in Pesquisa on homelessness in Brazil, Tressie McMillan Cottom in an online discussion on the candidates prior to last week’s debate, and David Karen in  Bryn Mawr News on the recently released film Love 2020.

We reposted a piece from The Conversation by James Densley and Jillian Peterson on how most school shootings show warning signs in advance, with over 90% of shooters leaking their plans, highlighting the need for early intervention and secure gun storage to prevent such tragedies.

From the Archives

Hurricane Francine hit Louisiana last week, again highlighting how many natural disasters unevenly impact communities with the least economic, social, and political power. Read this ‘There’s Research on That’ (TROT) by Erik Kojola to learn more.

Kamala Harris’s multiracial identity has been a consistent area of discussion. Check out this TROT by Allison Nobles and Amber Joy Powell to learn some sociology on this area.

Backstage with TSP

This week several board members created some prototype multimedia demos and reviewed some of our previous videos to spark ideas. We also began the process of showing new board members our Discovery process, including the pitching of articles and workshopping of drafted Discoveries.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

Contexts:

• that tiny, tiny little fish by Caleb Scoville on his research about the controversy over the Delta Smelt in California is more about partisan politics and symbolic division than actual water policy, serving as a tool for conservative pundits to critique liberal environmentalism.

Council on Contemporary Families:

• Black Fathers and The Talk by Conial Caldwell Jr. on The Talk, a critical racial socialization practice among Black families, involves discussing the realities of racism and safety with children, a tradition that dates back to the era of chattel slavery and remains vital due to ongoing racial violence and discrimination.

First Publics:

• Community-Engaged Learning as a Triple Win by Kirsten Vinyeta in her undergraduate Environmental Sociology course at Utah State University, a community-engaged research project on water conservation provided students with hands-on experience in qualitative research methods, while generating useful data for local agencies and supporting the faculty’s research goals. 

Give Theory a Chance:

• Andrea S. Boyles reads Patricia Hill Collins, guest hosted by Jabez Turner on Patricia Hill Collins’ Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment (1990).