Welcome back! This week we’re featuring another honorable mention from our ‘Teach with TSP’ contest about doing gender with backpacks. We also revisit sexual double standards and the precarious work of formerly incarcerated individuals. In new work, we’ve got sociological takes on intensive parenting, reflections on fast food in the White House, and new study on American intimacy.

Teaching TSP:

“Doing Gender with Backpacks,” by Jacqui Frost. In this activity, students read a Sociological Images article about ‘doing gender,’ then analyze the contents of their own backpacks using this lens.

There’s Research on That!:

*~* Best of 2018 *~*

“Best of 2018: Sexual Double Standards,” by Amber Joy Powell. We rounded up social science research on the persistence of sexual double standards between men and women.

Discoveries:

“Best of 2018: Out of Prison, Into Precarity,” by Isabel Arriagada. New research in the American Journal of Sociology finds that formerly incarcerated individuals work in intermittent, short-term, and precarious jobs to make ends meet.

Clippings:

“The Problems with Intensive Parenting,” by Amy August. The New York Times talks with sociologists about how and why parenting has gotten so relentless.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“White House Fast Food and the Cultural Politics of Distinction,” by Alison Hope Alkon.

“The Social Side of Gender and Strength,” by Maura Kelly.

Contexts:

“Risk and Race in Measuring Special Education Need,” by George Farkas and Paul L. Morgan.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“American Intimacy in Times of Escalating Inequality,” by Virginia Rutter and Stephanie Coontz.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology reflects on technology and teens’ mental health.

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Hello! This week we’re excited to announce the first honorable mention from our Teaching with TSP contest! Lydia Hou uses TSP content to get students thinking about small changes that can make big differences for people’s health and well-being. We’ll be sharing more of our honorable mentions in the next couple weeks leading up to the announcement of our contest winner. In other new content this week, we’ve got new research on the age-old question, “do we really need to learn math?” In addition, you can find sociological perspectives on what its like to care for a baby while living in poverty, and the relationship between sexism and the names of rock climbing routes.

Teaching TSP:

“Health Tracking Technologies Class Activity,” by Lydia J. Hou. Hou uses this in-class activity in an  Introduction to Sociology course to engage students in critical thinking about small changes that can be made to address people’s micro experiences with health issues and inequalities.

There’s Research on That!:

*~* Best of 2018 *~*

“Best of 2018: Settler Colonialism and Minnesota’s “Wall of Forgotten Natives”,” by Brieanna Watters and Caity Curry. In light of the recent homeless encampment in Minneapolis, made up of primarily American Indians, we rounded up social science research on settler colonialism and resistance to it.

Discoveries:

“Is Calculus Integral?” by Jean Marie Maier. New research in The Sociological Quarterly finds that although knowing advanced math matters for college attainment, it’s rarely used in the actual workplace.

Clippings:

*~* Best of 2018 *~*

“Best of 2018: The Sociology Behind the X-Files,” by Isabel Arriagada. New York Magazine talks to Joseph O. Baker about the social context behind Americans’ beliefs about UFOs.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Illusions Show How Our Methods Matter,” by Evan Stewart.

“Self-Help Sociology,” by Evan Stewart.

Contexts:

“Playing Foreign and Building Community at Deer Park,” by Dana Nakano.

“Justifying Gentrification,” by Sara Schmidt.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Diapers, Depression and Gender Matter for Social Policy,” by Jennifer Randles and Barbara Risman.

Midwest Sociology:

“‘Meet the Midwest!’ Talking with Dr Thornhill,” by Neeraj Rajasekar.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Engaging Sports ponders sexism and rocking climbing route names.

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Hello again! We’ve got more *Best of 2018* posts for you this week, including research on the relationship between drug testing policies for welfare recipients and white labor force participation, as well as research on why poor parents say yes to junk food. We’ve also got new posts covering the stalled gender revolution and undocumented Asians.

There’s Research on That!:

*~* Best of 2018 *~*

“Best of 2018: Criminalizing Dance to Demonstrate Power,” by Isabel Arriagada. After teenager Maedeh Hojabri was recently arrested and imprisoned by Iranian authorities for posting Instagram videos of herself dancing, we rounded up research on the purpose of such legal sanctions.

Discoveries:

Clippings:

“Many Americans Still Resist Gender Equity in the Home,” by Amy August. The New York Times covers research by sociologists William Scarborough,  Ray Sin, and Barbara Risman on why the gender revolution has stalled.

*~* Best of 2018 *~*

Best of 2018: Why Poor Parents Say “Yes” to Junk Food, by Nahrissa Rush. In an op-ed earlier this year for the Los Angeles Times, Priya Fielding-Singh explains that junk food consumption is an emotionally-rooted decision for impoverished parents.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“Undocumented Asians, Left in the Shadows,” by Soo Mee Kim and Aggie J. Yellow Horse.

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Welcome back! It’s our last roundup of 2018 and we’ve got our *Best of 2018* in full swing. This week we feature research on sexual violence behind bars and how children learn rules for romance in preschool. We’ve also got sociological takes on racial demographic projections and the gender gap in politics.

There’s Research on That!:

*~* Best of 2018 *~*

“Best of 2018: Me Too Behind Bars,” by Amber Joy Powell. Adding to the national conversation about sexual violence spurred by the #MeToo campaign, we rounded up social science research on sexual violence in detention.

Discoveries:

Clippings:

“Reactions to Racial Projections,” by Jean Marie Maier. Recently The New York Times interviewed social scientists to get their reactions to the projections that non-hispanic whites will soon become a numerical minority.

 From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Is The Gender Gap in Politics Changing?” by Stephanie Coontz.

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Looking for some reading material for your winter break? We’ve got you covered. This week we’ve got research on victim rights movements, the relationship between a country’s use of cash and robbery rates, and how cleaning up neighborhoods could help reduce violence. We’ll also be rolling out our *Best of 2018* over the next few weeks, so you can catch up on all the great posts from the year. Enjoy!

There’s Research on That!:

“The Power, Privilege, and Politics of Victim Rights Movements,” by Caity Curry. Recent debates over Marsy’s Law highlight two key lines of research, the power of victim rights movements in the United States and the racial and gender privilege underlying perceptions of victimhood.

Discoveries:

“Show Me the Money!” by Isabel Arriagada. New research in Justice Quarterly finds that countries with higher rates of cashlessness also have lower levels of street crime.

*~* Best of 2018 *~*

“Best of 2018: More Than Just a Walk in the Park,” by Brooke Chambers. Recent work in Sociological Theory finds that going out in public is influenced by social factors like identity and bias.

Clippings:

“How “Cleaning and Greening” Can Reduce Gun Violence,” by Caity Curry. A recent study featured in Huffington Post shows that this simple strategy of cleaning up vacant lots may have some far-reaching impacts on reducing crime.

 From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Package Pirates & The Rules of the Gift,” by Evan Stewart.

Contexts:

“Harvesters of the White Desert,” by Sugato Mukherjee.

“A Haunted Generation Remembers,” by Shruti Devgan.

Social Studies MN:

“Dialogue Across Difference,” by Allison J. Steinke.

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Welcome back! This week we’ve got new pieces on how consumers interpret ancestry DNA test results, how green space may help reduce crime rates, and the surprising way social support matters for cancer treatment.

There’s Research on That!:

“Greener Grass, Fewer Crimes?” by Isabel Arriagada. Green areas, like parks, are widely recognized as an indicator of development and social wellbeing. In light of this, we examine social science research on how natural spaces might contribute to social well-being by reducing crime rates.

“Substance Use, Violence, and Risk-Taking Among Male Athletes,” by Jean Marie Maier. During his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Kavanaugh talked about high school sports as a beneficial, wholesome activity for youth. However, research shows that sport participation is often associated with substance use, violence, and risk-taking among boys and young men in the United States.

Discoveries:

“Determining Identity through DNA,” by Brooke Chambers. New research in the American Journal of Sociology finds that personal experiences and social expectations help determine how consumers respond to ancestry test results.

Clippings:

“It’s Not All Emotional Labor,” by Jean Marie Maier. The Atlantic talks with Arlie Hochschild about how the term she coined, “emotional labor,” has been used far more broadly than she originally intended.

“Can Marriage Cure Cancer?” by Allison Nobles. The Washington Post consults Linda Waite and Susan Brown about the relationship between social support and the type of cancer treatment doctors recommend.

 From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“The Stuff of Holidays: How Holiday Objects Tell a Sociological Story about Today’s Families,” by Michelle Janning.

“Random Families: Genetic Strangers, Sperm Donor Siblings, and the Creation of New Kin,” by Rosanna Hertz and Barbara Risman.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology analyzes Peloton’s recent holiday ad, reflects on dating and gene editing, and argues for Google to be more transparent.
• Engaging Sports covers the enduring legacy of the “Black Power” salute.

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Welcome back! A big thank you to everyone who submitted to our Teach with TSP contest! Stay tuned as we review the submissions. In new content this week, we’re featuring social science research on distant war and selective empathy, elite education, and social barriers to reporting sexual assault. And check out the fall table of contents for Contexts, published this week.

There’s Research on That!:

“Distant War and Selective Empathy,” by Brooke Chambers. Thousands of Yemen’s civilians have been killed, half of the population is at risk of famine, and over 20 million people need humanitarian aid, and yet it receives little attention in the United States. Research can help explain the lack of coverage of this crisis and why distant conflict may result in selective empathy.

“Easing into the Elite,” by Amy August. The confirmation hearing for the recently appointed Supreme Court Justice, Brett Kavanaugh called public attention to what goes on inside elite, private boarding schools. In light of this, we rounded up social science research on how boarding schools serve the power elite.

Discoveries:

“Counting the Cost of Reporting Sexual Assault,” by Amber Joy Powell. New research in Sociological Science finds that there are many social risks that keep students from reporting sexual assault.

Clippings:

“Young People and the Great Sex Decline,” by Allison Nobles. The Atlantic talks to social scientists, including Lisa Wade, Paula England, and Michael Rosenfeld about why young people aren’t having more sex.

“Does Piety Persist?” by Evan Stewart. The Salt Lake Tribune delves into debates about piety in the United States, covering research by David Voas, Mark Chaves, Landon Schnabel, and Sean Bock.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“The Age of Hollywood: A Look at May-December Movies,” by Evan Stewart.

Contexts:

“Race, Displacement, and the Public Intellectual: An Interview with Viet Thanh Nguyen,” by Anthony Ocampo.

“Stop Forgetting Asian Americans,” by Anthony Ocampo.

“Letter From the Editors,” by Rashawn Ray and Fabio Rojas.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Same-Sex Couples Devote More Attention to End-of-Life Plans than Heterosexual Couples,” by Mieke Beth Thomeer, Rachel Donnelly, Corinne Reczek, and Debra Umberson.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology reflects on racism and good intentions.
• Engaging Sports ponders soccer, race, and empire and asks what counts as a national tragedy?

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It’s a snowy Friday at TSP headquarters, but that won’t stop us from bringing you the latest sociological takes. This week we’ve got social science research on the social construction of gender and sex, colorblind racism in the constitution, and a new teaching exercise using voter fraud to teach students how to evaluate evidence. And don’t forget TODAY is the deadline to send in submissions for The ‘Teach with TSP’ Contest!

Teaching TSP:

“Teaching How to Evaluate Evidence using Voter Fraud,” by Meghan Krausch. An exercise using TSP materials on voter fraud and the voting rights act to teach students how to evaluate evidence.

There’s Research on That!:

“The Social Construction of Gender and Sex,” by Allison Nobles. In light of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ proposal to change the definition of gender to one that is solely biological, we rounded up research on the social construction of gender and sex.

Discoveries:

“Colorblind Racism in the Constitution,” by Caity Curry. New research in Social Problems finds that covert, colorblind racism was present as far back as the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

Clippings:

“Secrets of the Rich Highlight the Plight of the Poor,” by Isabel Arriagada. In a vivid account of her research in The Guardian, Brooke Harrington explains that wealth managers not only preserve and expand the rich’s fortunes, but also cover up drug addictions, promiscuous behavior, secret love affairs, and laziness at work.

“Diversity Debates in College Admissions,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. In a recent article in The Washington Post, Anthony Chen and Lisa M. Stulberg discuss how the pursuit of diversity has a long history in higher education.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Gender Reveals Sparking Controversy,” by Evan Stewart.

Contexts:

“Caravan, Invasion, Exodus: A Photo Essay,” by Veronica Montes.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Response to Arielle Kuperberg, ‘Cohabitation and Divorce: The Importance of Accounting for Age at Coresidence’,” by Michael J. Rosenfeld and Katharina Roesler.

Social Studies MN:

“The Gender Policy Report: Discover the Gender Equity Implications of Policymaking,” by Allison J. Steinke.

Midwest Sociology:

“The Tea Party is More Complicated Than You Think,” by Allison J. Steinke.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies talks with Hasan Hasanovic about his experience as a survivor of the Srebrenica genocide.
• Engaging Sports reflects on sporting nationalism and the bus crash associated with the Humboldt Broncos Junior Hockey Team in April.

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This week we’re thankful for social science research on constructive family conversations, affirmative action in Brazil, transracial siblings’ mistaken identities, and school closings in Chicago. And don’t forget to send us your submissions for The ‘Teach with TSP’ Contest by the end of the month!

There’s Research on That!:

“Table Talk for Thanksgiving,” by TSP Grad Board. For Thanksgiving, we brought back research about what family meals mean and how engaging in constructive conversations about political issues may be fruitful.

“Race and Affirmative Action in Brazil,” by Lucas Lynch. In light of the election of right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro who has been openly critical of Blacks and the LGBT community, we rounded up research on affirmative action policies in Brazil.

Discoveries:

“How Transracial Adoptees Combat Mistaken Identities,” by Mark Lee. New research in The Sociological Quarterly finds that transracial adoptees and their siblings are often mischaracterized and develop strategies to respond.

Clippings:

“School Closings and Structural Racism in Chicago,” by Jasmine Syed. In a recent interview with Morning Shift radio, Eve Ewing describes systemic issues that contributed to public school closings and their impacts on communities of color. 

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“In Mapping, Size Matters,” by Evan Stewart.

Contexts:

“Taking a Knee,” by Simón E. Weffer, Rodrigo Dominguez-Martinez, and Raymond Jenkins.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“The Data Behind the Headlines: What Research on the Newest Parenting Topics Really Reveals,” by Michelle Janning.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies reviews historians’ thoughts about the genocide that was perpetuated by Germany during the Herero and Nama War.
•  Feminist Reflections reflects on labels and the lesbian generational divide.

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Welcome back! This week we’ve got social science research on civil servants’ emotional wellbeing, perceptions of immigrant illegality, and economic disadvantage among people with disabilities. And don’t forget to send us your submissions for The ‘Teach with TSP’ Contest by the end of the month!

There’s Research on That!:

“State Agents Under Pressure,” by Isabel Arriagada. Social science research helps us understand how state actors — like the state officials Trump recently blamed for not doing enough to fight wildfires — manage their roles and maintain their own emotional wellbeing.

Discoveries:

“Perceptions of Immigrant Illegality,” by Lucas Lynch. New research in the American Sociological Review finds that various factors affect perceptions of immigrant illegality, like an individual’s ethnicity, language, economic status, and cultural factors.

“Disability and Cumulative Economic Disadvantage,” by Allison Nobles. New research in Gender & Society finds that the effects of disability on poverty is the strongest for women of color with low levels of education, but the most advantaged groups take the biggest hits in terms of income.

Clippings:

“Measuring Race and Ethnicity in the 2020 Census,” by Lucas Lynch. A recent NBC News article draws from sociological research to argue that the 2020 census should capture racial and ethnic identities for a more accurate picture of the Latino population.

“Intersectionality and Inclusivity in the Workplace,” by Allison J. Steinke. A recent article in The New York Times explores how intersectionality influences men and women of color in the workplace.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“The Rainbow Connection,” by Evan Stewart.

Contexts:

“What Does Homeownership Buy?” by Mary DeStefano.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Queer Kinship in Taiwan: An Interview with Amy Brainer,” by Barbara Risman.

Social Studies MN:

“Migration and Migrants in Terrifying Times: Confronting Challenges, Centering Solutions,” by Neeraj Rajasekar.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies reflects on racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia in modern Europe.

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