Friday Roundup

Happy Halloween weekend all! Before you put on your costumes, turn on your favorite scary movies, and embark on a self-induced candy coma, check out the treats we have for you over at TSP this week.

There’s Research on That!:

“#ShoutYourAbortion Shouts Back at Stigma,” by Amber Powell and Jacqui Frost. Sociological research details why women have generally felt compelled to stay silent about having abortions and the potential benefits of speaking up.

“Fantasy Sports and the Culture of Fandom,” by Evan Stewart and Alex Snidarich. Thinking of trying your luck on a fantasy sports website? Find out what they offer beyond the promise of money.

Clippings:

“The Context of Cult Violence,” by Miray Philips. Bernadette Barton talks to Broadly Vice about the recent violence in an upstate New York church and how isolated religious groups get away with and justify abuse.

“The Missing Women of Wikipedia,” by Eamon Whalen. Julia Adams talks to The Atlantic about the gender imbalance of Wikipedia’s editors.

Discoveries:

Check out “The Personal (Financial) is Political” by Evan Stewart to put Wednesday’s Republican debates in context.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“Regulating Unpredictable Schedules to Cut Down the Chaos.” Naomi Gerstel and Dan Clawson suggest much needed changes to shift some of the burden of unpredictable schedules off of employees and onto employers.

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Can Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Activists Recognize the Socioeconomic Realities of Abortion?” by Hannah Phillips. Why the two sides of the abortion debate need to come together and agree to be “pro-women.”

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Promoting Marriage among Single Mothers: An Ineffective Weapon in the War on Poverty,” by Kristi Williams. What is effective? Supportive social and economic family policies.

And a Few From the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images gets into the Halloween spirit with a sociology of zombies, a look at Halloween as an alcoholiday, and their annual “Sexy What?!” Halloween post.
• Sociological Lens talks the sociology of debt and finance.
• Feminist Reflections reflects on man buns and feminist mentoring.
• Cyborgology turns 5 and revisits how Black Lives Matter hacked the social system.
• Families As They Really Are reports on the state of women’s reproductive health.

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Hello, everyone! TSP has been buzzing with everything from elections abroad to academics at home this week. Here’s a look at our latest work.

There’s Research on That!:

“Is #MasculinitySoFragile?” Allison Nobles and Aisha Upton look at the research that makes this hashtag resonate.

“Mass Incarceration’s Challenges for Black America: Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Edition.” Amber Powell rounds up research from the sociologists featured in Coates’ latest article for The Atlantic.

Discoveries:

“Fact or Fiction: NFL Players More Criminal than General Population” by Amber Powell. Research from Wanda Leal, Marc Gertz, and Alex Piquero shows the answer may surprise you!

Give Methods a Chance:

Vinnie Roscigno on Mixed Methods Research. “I feel more confident when I can pull off this blending of methods…this type of sociology is poignant. It’s powerful.”

Clippings:

“Men Who ‘Wait for Marriage‘” by Amber Powell. Sarah Diefendorf talks to The Huffington Post about her research on male abstinence support groups.

“An Academic Bind: ‘Publish or Perish’ Means Playing It Safe” by Miray Philips. A study on the sociology of studies. So meta.

“Surviving Gun Violence” by Eamon Whalen. “Getting shot really changes a person’s social world”

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“The Complexities of Black Youth Suicide” by Kimya N. Dennis

Contexts:

“Something’s Going on North of the Border, Eh?” Howard Ramos gives us a look at the Canadian elections this past week.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images talks planned obsolescence and the links between masculinity, marines, and My Little Pony
• Cyborgology talks authenticity in political campaigns and small town internet
• Sociological Lens analyzes the airport

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Happy Friday everyone! We’ve got lots of great new stuff on the site this week, so be sure to stop by and check it out!

There’s Research on That!:

In “The Politics of Pink,” Sarah Catherine Billups reviews research that complicates the “pink culture” surrounding breast cancer awareness campaigns.

Discoveries:

“‘Traditional Women’ and Modern Migration” by Allison Nobles. Anju Mary Paul finds that, despite what looks to be a break from traditional gender norms, migrant women often frame their movement as a means to fulfill their roles as mothers and wives.

Office Hours:

Joanna Kempner talks to Matt Gunther about the “Gender Politics of Migraine.”

Clippings:

“Discrimination Harms Transgender Health,” by Allison Nobles. Lisa R. Miller and Eric Anthony Grollman talk to US News about the disproportionate discrimination trans people experience and how that relates to poor health outcomes.

“Can Being Buried Alive Be a Good Thing?” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Margee Kerr talks to ABC News about the benefits of overcoming our fears.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Are Gender Stereotypes A Problem For Female Candidates?” by Nichole Bauer.

Contexts:

“Pete Wells: Nytimes Food Critic, Accidental Sociologist,” by Josh Page.

“What 5 Disciplines (Not Sociology) Say About Ex-offender Re-entry,” by Brittany Dernberger

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Education and Society on the social construction of first generation college students.
• Girl w/Pen chooses mercy for Planned Parenthood.
• Cyborgology talks Playboy putting clothes on and the social nature of computer programming.
• Feminist Reflections points to powerful women in politics.
• Sociological Lens uses Bourdieu to analyze literary fiction awards.

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Hello everyone! Here’s a look at what TSP has been up to this week.

The Editors’ Desk:

“Thoughts on immigration policy and race,” by Doug Hartmann, on the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act.

There’s Research on That!:

Discoveries:

“Higher Education Lowers Depression” by Sarah Catherine Billups. New work from Shawn Bauldry captures the difference a degree makes for disadvantaged populations.

Clippings:

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“How Erratic Schedules Penalize Workers.” by Naomi Gerstel. “Just-in-time” scheduling is great for employers, but just not enough for working families that need a stable workday.

Contexts:

“Black in Black Rock City.” Steven Thrasher explores race at Burning Man.

And a Few From the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images on American gun laws and the tragedy of the false negative
• Cyborgology talks bad news on Facebook.
• Families As They Really Are looks at the new U.S. Department of Education college scorecard
• Sociology Lens looks at race and the politics of natural hair.

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Happy October everyone! As it (finally) starts to cool off outside, cozy up with some great reads from our grad board, partners, and community pages.

There’s Research on That!:

“A ‘Blank Space’ for Women in Music?” by Jacqui Frost. Reviews of Ryan Adams’ cover of Taylor Swift’s 1989 highlight how gender affects who gets credit for creativity in the music industry.

Discoveries:

“‘New Governance’ and Privatization Increase Inequality” by Neeraj Rajasekar. George Wilson, Vincent Roscigno, and Matt Huffman find that the privatization of the public sector has led to increased inequality in both the public and private sectors.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Unworkable Immigration Proposals From Donald Trump – And Other Republican Presidential Contenders” by Anna O. Law.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Remember the Men” by Virginia Rutter.

And a Few From the Community Pages:

• Education and Society talks education for the incarcerated.
• Cyborgology debates the pros and cons of trigger warnings.
• Families As They Really Are discusses gender discrimination in parental leave policies.
• Sociological Lens makes sense of the “social” in social media and the “angry” activist.
• Feminist Reflections reflects on Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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Hello everyone! Our new graduate editorial board is settled in and doing big things at TSP this week. We launched a new topic tab devoted to covering health and medicine, TROT is back on the beat, and our newest members are already hard at work to bring you the latest in great social science.

The Editors’ Desk:

“Health Page Can’t Wait!” Chris Uggen introduces our newest topic page curated by Sarah Catherine Billups and Caty Taborda.

Office Hours Interview:

Peter Hall on Sociological Memoir with Matt Gunther. Peter M. Hall looks at the way personal memories help us understand place and history.

There’s Research on That!:

“The Social Life of Autism and ASD” by Sarah Catherine Billups. Social networks don’t just spread germs, they also help us make sense of sickness.

“Refugees and Social Instability” by Evan Stewart and Miray Philips. In the wake of Syria, we look to the social science on why refugees move and how they settle in.

Clippings:

“Civil Rights for the Poor” by Neeraj Rajasekar. New work by Doug Massey and Robert Putnam featured in The Atlantic. 

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“Online Friends Affect Relationship Status” by Joanna Pepin. Social networks shape the way you look at your spouse.
“Kids and Community Violence” by Megan Wilhelm. How do kids cope with trouble in the neighborhood?
“Marrying Social Activism and Spiritual Seeking” by Eve Fox. Interview with Elizabeth Lesser on the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. 

Council on Contemporary Families:

What Happens When Couples Marry after the First Baby? by Kelly Musick and Katherine Michelmore. Unlike earlier research, not divorce!

And a Few From the Community Pages:

• Families as They Really Are fills us in on the state of affordable child care.
• Education and Society looks at new research by Jonathan Pryor on the experiences of transgender college students.
• Cyborgology weighs in on recent debates over online advertising, saying “Full Communism is the Ultimate Ad Blocker“

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Hey everyone! Check out what’s new (and not as new but still timely) on TSP this week. Our grad board is hard at work putting together some great new pieces, so be sure to keep checking back!

Discoveries and There’s Research on That!:

Still reeling from the Republican debate Wednesday night? These oldies but goodies from our grad board are sure to pique your interest.

“Caught in the Culture Wars Crossfire” by Jack Delehanty. Delia Baldassarri and Amir Goldberg find that many American voters are choosing an “alternative” to the standard Democrat-Republican divide.

Jacqui Frost highlights research on the politics of reproductive rights, a hot topic in the debates, in “Religion, Reproduction, and the Supreme Court.”

Also, check out our Roundtable, “Is the (Tea) Party Over?,” by Jack Delehanty and Erik Kojola. They talk to Meghan Burke, Robert Horwitz, Ruth Braunstein, and Andrew Perrin about the continued influence of the Tea Party.

Clippings:

“Good Morning God, Good Night Moon,” by Caty Taborda. Bradley R.E. Wright and colleagues use an app to track the ways in which spiritual awareness fluctuates throughout the day.

“Buying a Viral Speech,” by Caty Taborda. Panicking about the speech you are supposed to give at your friend’s wedding? Now you can hire someone else to do it. Lisa Wade from Soc Images comments on the growing business of “toast whispering.”

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network: 

“What Happens When Women Planning Abortions View Ultrasounds?” by Katrina Kimport.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Health Care is a Family Stressor – So There’s Good News,” by Philip Cohen.

And a Few From the Community Pages:

• Education and Society interviews Kelly Nielsen and Nicole Deterding on the value of community college.
• Feminist Reflections charts Twitter activity surrounding the refugee crisis
• Girl w/Pen! talks Kim Davis and anti-gay politics.
• Cyborgology stands with Ahmed Mohamed and reflects on the changing needs of Intro to Soc students.
• Sociological Images critiques sexism in Disney movies and media coverage of violence against police.

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Hello, folks! Evan here, co-graduate editor for TSP along with Jacqui Frost. We’ll be bringing you the weekly roundup this semester. As classes start up and a new graduate editorial board rolls in here at the site, here’s a look at what we’ve been up to since ASA 2015.

Discoveries:

“E-I-T-C, Find Out What It Means to Me” by Lisa Gulya. Jennifer Sykes, Katrin Križ, Kathryn Edin, and Sarah Halpern-Meekin show how a small tax break is a big step toward giving low income families a sense of control.

There’s Research on That!:

The recent hubbub over marriage licenses for same-sex couples and a certain county clerk had us had us cheering “#TROT!” Check out “Marriage, Inequality, and Bureaucracy: The Devil’s in the DMV?”

Office Hours Interview:

Allison Pugh on The Tumbleweed Society with Lisa Gulya. Allison Pugh looks at how winds of change from the workforce blow into our personal lives.

Scholars Strategy Network:

“The Role of Racial Tensions in State Decisions To Cut Back Welfare” by Hana Brown.

“The Evidence Shows that ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws Undermine Law Enforcement and Public Safety” by Robert J. Spitzer.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Gender Revolution and the Restabilization of Family Life,” by Frances Goldscheider.

Contexts:

Q&A with ASA President Paula England on her 2015 Presidential Address: “Sometimes the Social Becomes Personal: Gender, Class, and Sexualities.”

“Foreclosing on Diversity” by Angie O’Brien. New research in American Sociological Review shows how banks bolstered racial separation by foreclosing in communities of color.

“Saving Our Kids.” Sean McElwee sets the record straight by reviewing a reviewer of Robert Putnam’s Our Kids. 

Highlights from the Community Pages:

• Families as They Really Are talks overprotective parenting as the school year starts up.
• Sociological Images rounds up August posts and looks at research on what creeps us out.
• Cyborgology has thoughts on public scholarship from ASA15 and the politics of hacking.
• Thick Culture looks at trends in citizen journalism with grad board member Ryan Larson.

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Since last we met…

In Case You Missed It:

“Same-Sex, Different Attitudes,” by Kathy Hull. A historical look at the push for marriage equality and the shifts in Americans’ attitudes toward civil rights for gays and lesbians.

“The Return of the Confederate Flag,” by C.N. Le. A 2008 piece examines the resurgence of the Confederate Flag and considers its changing meanings in changing macro-level contexts.

There’s Research on That!

“How Misdemeanors Maintain Inequality,” by Evan Stewart. Research shows that “misdemeanor justice” has a lot of unintended consequences.

Office Hours Podcast:

“Greta Krippner on the Politics of Financial Crisis,” with Erik Kojola. Discussing how the American economy became dangerously dependent on credit and speculation.

Discoveries:

“Political Power and Protest Can Undermine Crime,” by Evan Stewart. New Social Problems research shows that when protest leads to accrued political power, crime goes down in previously underserved communities. more...

As summer starts, sociology blossoms! There’s a new issue of Contexts magazine (all content is available for free from SAGE publications for 30 days!), new podcast episodes, and more for your summer reading list.

There’s Research on That!

“Pew Compiles Data on Pew Composition,” by Jack Delehanty. Are Americans becoming less religious or less organized when it comes to religion and spirituality? Delehanty looks to research from Richard Madsen, Michael Hout and Claude Fischer, Joseph O’Brian Baker and Buster Smith, and Chaeyoon Lim, Carol Ann MacGregor, and Robert D. Putnam.

The Editors’ Desk

“Grandmothers on the World Stage,” by Doug Hartmann. The Atlantic wonders if women like Hillary Clinton find age an advantage in politics, playing what they call “the granny card.”

Office Hours Podcast

“Susan Terrio on Children in U.S. Immigration Custody,” with Lisa Gulya. Discussing Terrio’s new book, Whose Child Am I? more...