Hi Folks! Evan here, subbing in for your usual Friday roundup from Allison Nobles. Read on for the latest social science on everything from big money and body cameras to student activists and a smash stage production in the Twin Cities. Happy Friday!

There’s Research on That!:

“When Youth Become Activists,” by Amber Joy Powell. Youth play a vital role in shaping social movements. Sociological studies on movements and young people’s mobilization help us understand the energy behind their activism.

Discoveries:

“Big Money Bridging the Political Divide,” by Evan Stewart. New research in American Journal of Sociology shows how longtime donors are more bipartisan than we think.

Clippings:

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

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Are We Really Looking at Body Cameras?” by Evan Stewart

Contexts:

“Auditing macroeconomic data production,” by Andrew Kerner and Charles Crabtree

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Three Questions for Trevor Hoppe on Punishing Disease” by Arielle Kuperberg

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies looks at a local production of Paula Vogel’s Indecent

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Hi Sociology-Friends! Happy March! This week we’ve got resources on public sociology, social science research on sexual double standards, and new research on the gender gap in crime rates across countries.

The Editor’s Desk:

On the Eds’ Desk this week, Evan Stewart presents some of our favorite resources on public sociology.

There’s Research on That!:

“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:

“Who’s Shelling out for Household Services?” by Sarah Catherine Billups. New research in the Journal of Marriage and Family finds that men’s income, not women’s, determines if couples hire household services.

“Explaining the Gender Gap in Crime Cross-Nationally,” by Ryan Larson. New research in Criminology finds that young men and women commit crimes at more similar levels in countries with more gender equality.

Clippings:

“Will #MeToo Widen the Political Divide?” by Jenn Edwards. The New York Times talks to Musa al-Gharbi, Joanna Pepin, and David Cotter about how the #MeToo movement may affect the U.S. political divide.

“Misleading Census Counts May Stoke Immigration Fears,” by Lucas Lynch. In a recent article in The Washington Post, sociologist Richard Alba argues that the census over-estimates counts of racial and ethnic minorities, a move that can seriously affect politics and policies in the United States.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Digital Drag?” by Allison Nobles.

Contexts:

“A New Black Holiday, or Why W.E.B. Du Bois’s 150th Birthday Matters,” by Marcus Anthony Hunter.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“‘Unconventional Wisdom’ on Creating and Conceiving Families in the 21st C” by Virginia Rutter.

“CCF Honors Nina Martin, ProPublica, on Abortion, Pregnancy, and Maternal Health,” by Christie Boxer.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies explores “microstudies” of the holocaust.
• Cyborgology reflects on human error in a technologically advanced world, and social construction of (augmented) reality.
• Sociology Toolbox highlights data on race and police killings.

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This week I am giving a talk about TSP’s work at a conference for UMN’s Office for Public Engagement. To supplement the talk, and save room on the slides, we pulled together a few of our favorite resources on public sociology for the attendees.

There are many different ways that sociologists do outreach. We have a broad range of approaches and goals, and so the conversation about public sociology is a great place to start for scholars in any field interested in public engagement. These resources provide a good overview of core issues, debates, and approaches:

• ASA Resources on Public Communication
• Evaluating Pubic Communication in Tenure and Promotion
• Arlene Stein and Jessie Daniels. 2017. Going Public: A Guide for Social Scientists. University of Chicago Press.
• Kieran Healy. 2017. “Public Sociology in the Age of Social Media.” Perspectives on Politics15(3):771–80.
• Douglas Hartmann. 2017. “Sociology and Its Publics: Reframing Engagement and Revitalizing the Field.” The Sociological Quarterly 58(1): 3-18.
• Herbert Gans. 2016. “Public Sociology and Its Publics.” American Sociologist 47:3–11.
• Michael Burawoy. 2005. “2004 American Sociological Association Presidential Address: For Public Sociology.” American Sociological Review 70(1):4–28.

There are also many different places to do public scholarship. Here are a few to start:

• At UMN? Check out our partnership with the College of Liberal Arts
• The Conversation
• Scholars Strategy Network

It’s all fun and games until….someone brings up politics at the Olympics. Sorry! But if you’ve had enough of politics, we’ve also got social science on why learning a new language is beneficial, different conceptions of race in the Americas, and gentrification.

There’s Research on That!:

“Political Games at the Olympics,” by Brooke Chambers and Doug Hartmann. Here’s some sociological work on political effects of the Olympic Games.

“Learn a Language, Change the World,” by Isabel Arriagada. Turns out there are some great sociological reasons to learn a new language.

“Conceptions of Race in the Americas,” by Lucas Lynch. In this piece, we compile social science research on how race shapes social life in the Americas.

Discoveries:

“School Choice Policies Drive Gentrification,” by Jean Marie DeOrnellas. New research in Sociology of Education finds that school choice policies contribute to gentrification.

Clippings:

“Redlining Then, Gentrification Now,” by Jasmine Syed. NPR talks to John Schlichtman about the negative consequences of gentrification and how to counteract them.

“Is Probation the Solution to High Conviction Rates?” by Nahrissa Rush. PBS asks Michelle Phelps to weigh in on probation as a solution to high rates of felony convictions.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Talk with Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz on IPV in Transgender Communities,” by Tasia Clemons.

Social Studies MN:

“A New Look at Nuclear Negotiations,” by Evan Stewart.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies reflects on troubling pasts in Ukraine and Minnesota.
• Cyborgology considers the ethics of engineers.
• Dispatches from a Dean reviews Carvell Wallace’s review of Black Panther.

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Whether you need a break from the post-Valentine’s Day candy sales or watching the Winter Olympics, we’ve got the goods! Check out our latest special feature on Jeremy Lin’s dreadlocks, social science research on gender and bodies, and new research on the role real estate agents play in racial segregation.

Special Feature:

“Much Ado about a Hairdo? Unraveling the Social Significance of Jeremy Lin’s Dreadlocks,” by Stephen Cho Suh, Kyle Green, and Alex Manning. In light of NBA All-Star Weekend, starting tomorrow, Suh, Green, and Manning reflect on the significance of Jeremy Lin’s dreadlocks for sport, race, and culture.

There’s Research on That!:

“Gender, Bodies, and the Valentine’s Day Script,” by Isabel Arriagada and Allison Nobles. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we rounded up social science research on gender and bodies.

Discoveries:

“How Real Estate Agents Perpetuate Racial Segregation,” by Sarah Catherine Billups. New research in Sociological Forum finds that real estate agents use business practices that perpetuate structural racism.

“Racism Disadvantages Third-Generation Immigrants,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. New research in Sociology of Race & Ethnicity finds that economic and educational outcomes for third-generation Mexican-Americans are not better than second-generation Mexican-Americans, and are significantly worse than Whites.

Clippings:

“The Economics of Genocide Prevention,” by Brooke Chambers. The Washington Post talks to Aliza Luft about economic strategies for genocide prevention.

“Is Social Integration the Key to Happy Marriages?” by Allison Nobles. In a recent article in The New York Times, Stephanie Coontz reviews social science research demonstrating that a flourishing social life can lead to a better marriage.

“Learning from the Crime Drop,” by Chloe Hendrix.  In The New York Times, Patrick Sharkey discusses his research on both the causes and social benefits of the violent crime drop.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“What’s Trending? Feeling the Love,” by Ryan Larson and Evan Stewart.

“What’s That Fact? A Tricky Graph on Terror,” by Evan Stewart.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Paternal Incarceration and Children’s Schooling Contexts: Intersecting Inequalities of Educational Opportunity,” by Tasia Clemons.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies explores American exceptionalism and the need for a new revolution.
• Cyborgology reflects on the Center for Humane Technology.
• Engaging Sports discusses coverage of the Nigerian women’s bobsled team.

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Welcome sociology fans! If you’re also a fan of the Winter Olympics, we have sociological research on sporting mega-events and reflections on this year’s games. If you’re not a fan, we’ve also got sociological work on the meaning of racism, new research on engaging audiences on social media, and recent work on how police use big data.

There’s Research on That!:

“Sporting Mega-Events and Urban Inequality,” by Caity Curry. In light of recent sporting events, like the Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl, we’ve round up research on mega-events and urban inequality.

“Different Dimensions of Racism,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Social science reviews how racism goes beyond prejudicial attitudes and overt discrimination.

Discoveries:

“Keeping Audiences Engaged on Social Media,” by Brooke Chambers. New research in the American Sociological Review finds that the key to successful messaging is switching back and forth between rational and emotional argument styles.

“Zoom in and Enhance: Big Data meets Crime,” by Isabel Arriagada. Another study in the American Sociological Review examines how police’s use of big data has dramatically increased the number of people and institutions under surveillance.

Clippings:

“Why Fines are a Flawed Solution to Mass Incarceration,” by Jasmine Syed. The New York Times talks to Alexes Harris about how fines and fees may not be the best alternative to incarceration.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Beyond Racial Binaries: How ‘White’ Latinos Can Experience Racism,” by Jonathan Harrison.

Contexts:

“Can Hollywood Separate Gold from White?” by Matthew W. Hughey.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Noni Gaylord-Harden Reframes Violence and Youth,” by Eunice Owusu.

Social Studies MN:

“Multiple Screens Are Not Always Bad For Attention,” by Allison J. Steinke.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies reviews Understanding Atrocities and its uses for education.
• Cyborgology explores industry analysis and criticism and elderly influencers in East Asia.
• Engaging Sports reflects on the Winter Olympics.

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Well, it’s Groundhog Day, again. In case you need another reason to love this holiday, we rounded up social science research on why rituals are important. We’ve also got reflections on race and athlete protests, and new research on parenthood and gang membership.

Well, it’s Groundhog Day, again. In case you need another reason to love this holiday, we rounded up social science research on why rituals are important. We’ve also got reflections on race and athlete protests, and new research on parenthood and gang membership.

Well, it’s Groundhog Day, again. In case you need another reason to love this holiday, we rounded up social science research on why rituals are important. We’ve also got reflections on race and athlete protests, and new research on parenthood and gang membership.

(If you’re feeling confused, see here)

Special Feature:

“Unsportsmanlike Conduct? Reflections on a Tumultuous NFL Season,” by Doug Hartmann, Kyle Green, and Alex Manning. In our latest feature, Hartmann, Green, and Manning reflect on sport, race, and athlete activism.

There’s Research on That!:

“Groundhog Day and the Purpose of Strange Rituals,” by Allison Nobles and Jacqui Frost. Groundhog Day got us wondering about the purpose of strange rituals, so we compiled sociological perspectives on why rituals matter.

“Missing Crime Data and Why We Need It,” by Caity Curry. After the FBI released the 2016 Uniform Crime Report missing key tables from previous years, we wanted to know how and why researchers utilize this data. Turns out, it’s pretty important.

Discoveries:

“Does Parenthood Disrupt Gang Membership?” by Amber Joy Powell. New Research in Criminology finds that first-time parenthood reduces gang affiliation, but parenthood’s impact differs by gender.

Clippings:

“Firearms and Mental Illness Matter More for Suicide than Mass Shootings,” by Evan Stewart. In an article for The Conversation, Miranda Lynne Baumann and Brent Teasdale explain that firearm access for people with mental illnesses is much more threatening to their own safety than to the safety of others.

“Is Attraction about Evolution or Culture?” by Jean Marie DeOrnellas. Lisa Wade talks to The Washington Post about the cultural side of who we find attractive.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Selling the Sport Spectacle,” by Evan Stewart.

“Children Learn Rules for Romance in Preschool,” by Allison Nobles.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies links the Dreyfus Affair to current U.S. politics.
• Dispatches from a Dean highlights how researchers use data to help migrants find work.

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Hello and happy Friday! This week we’ve got social science research on first-generation students and the crisis in higher education, new research on how anti-immigrant groups exaggerate immigration projections, and sociological perspectives on the civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia.

There’s Research on That!:

“Push for Completion May Harm First-Generation Students,” by Jean Marie DeOrnellas. In response to University of Wisconsin-Superior’s recent decision to cut academic programs, we rounded up research to discuss how these decisions may affect first-generation students.

Discoveries:

“Exaggerating Immigration on the Internet,” by Lucas Lynch. New research in Social Problems investigates how anti-immigrant groups manipulate immigration projections in the United States.

Clippings:

“How Do We Talk about Sexual Violence?” by Allison Nobles. Vox talks to Heather Hlavka about the language we use to describe and define sexual violence.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Pod Panic & Social Problems,” by Evan Stewart.

Contexts:

“Virginia is for Lovers,” by Gretchen Livingston, Peter Wallenstein, Angela Gonzales, and Christopher Bonastia.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Millennials, Gender, and a More Open Society,” by Barbara J. Risman.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology reflects on technology in India, paywalls in academia, and Amazon’s second headquarters.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies discusses the problem with comparing Hitler to a bully.

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Welcome sociology friends! This week we’re wrapping up our “Best of 2017” posts and ramping up for 2018! We’ve got new pieces on Trump’s tweets and racial injustice, screen capping news stories, and neighborhood segregation.

Discoveries:

*~* Best of 2017 *~*

“When Your In-Law is an Outlaw,” by Ryan Larson. New research in Criminology finds that previously convicted brothers-in-law increase the likelihood of crime for new husbands — regardless of their own criminal histories.

Clippings:

*~* Best of 2017 *~*

“How College Became Synonymous with Sex,” by Brooke Chambers. Lisa Wade writes for Time Magazine and explains how colleges went from being rigid institutions to hubs for parties and casual sex.

“How Trump’s Tweets Distract from Racial Injustice,” by Lucas Lynch. ABC News talked with Ben Carrington and Doug Hartmann about Trump’s tweets about athletes may reveal racial bias.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Screen Capping the News Shows Different Stories for Different Folks,” by Kyle Green.

Contexts:

“Education Changes Neighborhood Segregation,” by Kelsey Drotning.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology reflects on the users of communication devices in a technology-dependent world.
• Dispatches from a Dean reprints Scott Myers-Lipton’s MLK Day speech.

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Happy Friday Everyone! This week we’ve got some new pieces on parole revocations and Alabama’s special election, as well as revisits from 2017 on the immigration-crime paradox and gender gaps in tenure promotion.

There’s Research on That!:

*~* Best of 2017 *~*

“The Immigration-Crime Paradox,” by Ryan Larson. Research shows that even though immigrants and the areas they inhabit are associated with lower levels of crime, both documented and undocumented individuals are more likely to be incarcerated and receive longer prison sentences.

Discoveries:

*~* Best of 2017 *~*

“Biased Evaluations Contribute to Gender Gaps in Tenure Promotion,” by Amber Joy Powell. A new study in Social Forces explores why female academics have a harder time achieving tenure promotion than their male peers.

Clippings:

“Violations of Parole Supervision Increase Prison Time,” by Caity Curry. Shawn Bushwayand David Harding talk to The Conversation about how violations of parole conditions appear to be a key driver of high prison populations, rather than new offenses.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“In Alabama’s Special Election, What about the Men?” by Mairead Eastin Moloney.

Contexts:

“On Culture, Politics, and Poverty,” by Lawrence M. Eppard, Noam Chomsky, Mark R. Rank, and David Brady.

“Pushes and Pulls for Professional Women,” by Mary DeStefano.

“Self-fulfilling status?” by Shilpa Venkatraman.

“Friends in Low Places,” by Shaun Genter.

“Parents’ Faith brings Friendship,” by  Rose Malinowski Weingartner.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Where the Millennials Will Take Us: A New Generation Wrestles with the Gender Structure,” by Barbara J. Risman.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies reviews On the Subject of Tattoos, a PhD thesis by a Nazi camp doctor.
• Sociology Toolbox highlights teaching tools for a new semester.

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