Good Morning, Everyone!

It’s nerdy, I know, but I’ve always found the first day of school to be one of the most exciting, hopeful, and uplifting days of the entire calendar year. Maybe that’s what happens when your mom was a kindergarten teacher and your dad a grade school principal. Whatever your story may be, I hope you are ready for another great year of sociology.

I see sociology as a noble profession, vocation, a calling in the Weberian sense. And in this time of tumult, conflict, and change, I believe our work—our research, our ideas, and the information and insights we produce—is more needed than ever by people, in communities, all over the world. This is, in many ways, the essence of the public sociology movement of which The Society Pages has been such a proud and prominent player. And today, on this first day of classes, the people I’m thinking mostly about are students—our graduates and our undergrads. We do many things as sociologists, but given that we are all in the business of teaching and learning, it is good to recall Michael Burawoy’s suggestion from a little over a decade ago that our classrooms are our first public(s).

Our dean at the UMN College of Liberal Arts, John Coleman, gave new students some advice last week. He stressed the need for each student to find their own place here on campus, their community, and to help create a culture of respect across all of our differences. Sound—and very sociological—advice for all of us all over the country, I think. Here’s hoping that we can all do our part to make culture and community (and sociology!) in our departments in the year ahead.

Thanks so much for your continued participation in and commitment to our wonderful community. Have a great day and a great year!

Doug

As summer break comes to an end, the TSP crew is gearing up for another engaging semester of sociologizing. In addition to checking out our new stuff below, those of you prepping to teach classes should be sure to stop by our Teaching TSP blog for class exercises, teaching tips, and suggestions for turning TSP blogs into assignments.

Editors’ Desk:

“Long-form Journalism, 2017 Late Summer Highlights,” by Doug Hartmann. As we head into the new school year, Doug reflects on some great sociological journalism produced over the summer.

Discoveries:

“The Politics of Dumpster Diving,” by Erik Kojola. New research in Sociological Perspectives details the ways freegans are pushing back against stigmatization and developing a collective identity.

Clippings:

“Socially Sanctioning Venezuela,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. David Smilde explains why economic sanctions might bolster the social influence of President Maduro in The News Observer.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“After Charlottesville: A Contexts Symposium.”

1. “‘Hilando Fino’: American Racism After Charlottesville,” Eduardo Bonilla-Silva
2. “The Souls of White Folk in Charlottesville and Beyond,” Matthew W. Hughey
3. “The Persistence of White Nationalism in America,” Joe Feagin
4. “A Sociologist’s Note to the Political Elite,” Victor Ray
5. “Are Public Sociology and Scholar-Activism Really at Odds?” Kimberly Kay Hoang
6. “Sociology as a Discipline and an Obligation,” David G. Embrick and Chriss Sneed

“Social Pressure to Appear Masculine Leads Straight Men to Have Unwanted Sex,” by Michelle J. Cera, Jessie Ford, and and Paula England.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images concludes feminists are awesome and reflects on the beauty and strength of Wonder Woman.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies offers a Marxist critique of the Cambodian genocide.
• Feminist Reflections remembers Harry Brod, 1951-2017.
• Engaging Sports talks athletic philanthropy and the limits of charity.

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I turned 50 this summer so maybe I’m feeling a little sentimental. Nevertheless, in this season of tumult, Trump, and 140 character tweets that pass for news, I have found myself sustained by the some of the most old-fashioned modes of media—weekly and monthly news magazines, and, more specifically, long-form journalism. Here are some of my favorites from the past few weeks, categorized in the ways that I think my sociology friends and colleagues would find meaningful:

—Social movements: Nathan Heller’s analysis of the efficacy of collective protests “Out of Action: Do Protests Work? The New Yorker, August 2017.

—Popular culture: “How American Lost its Mind,” a piece on culture and populism by Kurt Andersen in The Atlantic, September 2017. (Other solid treatments roughly in this category/vein: “The New Paranoia by Colin Dickey in July’s The New Republic; and “European Disunion: What the Rise of Populist Movements Means for Democracy” by Yascha Mounk, also in TNR, August/September).

—Sociology of knowledge: David Session in The New Republic, “The Rise of the Thought Leader: How the Superrich have Funded a New Class of Intellectual,” June 2017.

—Media studies: a trip down memory lane by my favorite television critic of how Donald Trump built his popularity (and personality) in and through the small screen, Emily Nussbaum in The New Yorker, July 2017.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Traditional journalism doesn’t (and can’t) solve all the problems of our fractious world, and indeed I sometimes worry that all of this great writing and reading can be its own kind of distraction or delusion. But the clear-thinking, the ability to put things in broader context, and the commitment to synthesizing social facts and cultural complexities—all qualities that us sociologists aspire to—displayed in these pieces is admirable and much needed. And I can only shake my head in awe for the way these writers, reporters, and critics are able to produce such great, insightful content in such timely and engaging fashion.

Happy Friday all! This week we’ve got a new feature on the sociology of joy and some new regular features on grandparental wealth and emboldened “fringe” ideologies. See below or stop by the site for more.

Special Feature:

“A Sociology of Joy,” by Dan Brook. In our latest feature, Dr. Brook explores the possibility of a “serendipitous sociology” that properly situates happiness in social contexts.

Discoveries:

“Inheriting Academic Success: Grandparental Wealth and Student GPAs,” by Brooke Chambers. New research in American Sociological Review finds that, when compared, parents and grandparents wealth had almost equal effects on student success.

Clippings:

“Emboldening “Fringe” Ideologies,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Tina Fetner and Sarah Sobieraj talk to the New York Times about how quickly “fringe” ideologies can find their way into mainstream culture.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“What Does Studying College Sex Tell Us About Immigrant Assimilation?” by Kristine Wang, Jessie Ford, and Paula England.

“The [Un]surprising Alt-right,” by Robert Futrell and Pete Simi.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“For African Americans, Grief and Loss Starting as Children,” by Tasia Clemons.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Families As They Really Are talks normalization and why words matter.
• Social Studies MN asks if “hybrid” activities count as volunteering.

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Hello all! We were out last week for ASA and the like, but we’re back this week with new takes on genetic ancestry tests, gender gaps in tenure promotion, and the ways people rely on “lowbrow” culture to fit in. That and more below.

Discoveries:

“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.

“Leaning on Lowbrow Culture,” by Evan Stewart. New research in ASR finds that people who feel they have high status, but also feel like that status may not be authentic, will reach for “more authentic” lowbrow culture.

Clippings:

“White Supremacy, Not-So-White Ancestry,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. STATNews covers research by Aaron Panofsky and Joan Donovan on how white nationalists understand their non-white ancestry.

“Separate but Diverse?,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Derek Hyra and Camille Z. Charles talk to Slate about “diversity segregation” and the ways that neighborhood segregation is changing but also staying the same.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“College Women: Seen as a ‘Slut’ if they Have Sex on a Hookup, ‘Bitch’ or ‘Prude’ if they Don’t,” by Michelle J. Cera, Jessie Ford, and Paula England.

“Contexts Hall of Fame Award,” by the Editors.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Segregation by Sexuality in the United States,” by Braxton Jones.

“The High Rate of Bereavement among African Americans,” by Megan Peterson.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images talks white tears in Trumpville and how ‘cosmopolitan’ became a slur.
• Engaging Sports details the Colin Kaepernick saga and the (a)political white athlete.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies expresses optimism surrounding the Rwandan presidential election.
• Families As They Really Are reflects on the definition of family in the era of genetic ancestry tests.

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Before you head out to enjoy the last few weeks of summer, catch up on our latest pieces, including the history of “law and order” rhetoric, the motivating factor behind bicycle commuting, and why men are still avoiding “pink collar” occupations.

There’s Research on That!:

“Political Protest and the Call for Law and Order,” by Amber Joy Powell. With Trump and the NRA’s recent calls for “law and order,” we look to historical social science that reveals how this strategy has worked in the past.

Discoveries:

“Which Comes First: Bikers or Bike Paths?” by Jacqui Frost. New research in Social Forces finds that bike baths can induce biking, and vice versa, but there is a third important variable driving both — local environmentalism.

Clippings:

“Why Men Continue to Avoid “Pink Collar” Jobs,” by Edgar Campos. Ofer Sharone and Janette S. Dill help Slate understand why women still dominate certain occupational sectors, even when male-dominated manual labor jobs are declining.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“Changing the World, One Website at a Time,” by Mark R. Rank.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Social Ties and Poverty: An interview with Joan Maya Mazelis,” by Arielle Kuperberg.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Toolbox provides a paper assignment for your class on affirmative action in colleges.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies reads genocide literature in middle and high school classrooms.
• Sociological Images explains why men avoid ball-kicking to protect the myth of masculinity.

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Hello! We’ve got some great new stuff for you this week, including a new special feature on listening to Latinx queers, a new Discovery about stalled school desegregation, and a look at marriage among trans men and women. Take a look!

TSP Special Features:

“Learning from Pulse, Listening to Latinx Queers,” by Greggor Mattson. In our latest special feature, Mattson previews some of his new research on changes in gay bar culture and the ways that the Pulse nightclub shootings highlighted racial divisions and exclusions within the LGBTQ community.

Discoveries:

“White Flight Stalls Desegregation in Schools,” by Caity Curry. New research in Social Forces finds that desegregation gains made in the formative years following Board v. Brown may have been superseded by a “post-desegregation status quo”.

Clippings:

“Farmers Concerned About Healthcare Costs,” by Caity Curry. Shoshanah Inwood talks to Vermont Public Radio about serious concerns regarding healthcare among American farmers.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Does Marriage Matter? A Look at Married Trans Women and Men,” by Braxton Jones.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology explains why social media platforms shouldn’t ban adult content.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies interviews Philip Spencer about why left-wing antisemitism is dangerous.
• Families As They Really Are talks whether paid family leave is an entitlement or investment.

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Hello and happy Friday all! This week we’ve got sociological takes on the “glocalization” of soccer, trans admittance policies at women’s colleges, and Trump’s fluid masculinities. See all that and more below.

There’s Research on That!:

“The “Glocalization” of Soccer in America,” by Edgar Campos. When the global and the local meet, aspects of a global game that many fans adore can be overshadowed by local flare.

Discoveries:

“How Women’s Colleges Construct Gender,” by Allison Nobles. New research in Gender & Society looks at the ways trans students are selectively admitted into women’s colleges.

Clippings:

“How Businesses Benefit From Immigrant Exploitation,” by Edgar Campos. The Huffington Post looks to Tanya Golash-Boza to explain the “immigrant industrial complex” in the U.S.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Kids Today: New Data on Teens, Sex, and Contraceptive Use,” by Tasia Clemons.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Engaging Sports remembers Wimbledon’s role in the movement for “open tennis”.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies talks to Timothy Snyder about Holocaust memory in Europe.
• Families As They Really Are explains how family budget calculators highlight policy concerns.
• Feminist Reflections reflects on Trump and the politics of fluid masculinities.

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Hey everyone! We’ve got some great new stuff for you this week, including pieces on bipartisan colorblindess and a proposal to credentialize panhandlers. And be sure to wish Lisa Wade and everyone over at Sociological Images a happy 10th anniversary. They helped pave the way for TSP and many others, so let’s all show them some love!

There’s Research on That!:

“How Racial Minorities Are Excluded from Being ‘American’,” by Allison Nobles. The 4th of July celebrates the U.S. and its freedoms, but social science shows that racial and ethnic minorities are excluded from many of them.

Discoveries:

“Bipartisan Colorblindness,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. New research in The Sociological Quarterly reveals that both liberals and conservatives draw on colorblind rhetoric to contruct their moral identities.

Clippings:

“Credentials for Panhandlers?,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Over at The Conversation, Brendan O’Flaherty and Gwendolyn Dordick propose offering credentials for panhandlers instead of tightening restrictions on them.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Opioids, Health Care Denial, and a World of Pain,” by Megan Peterson.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images celebrates their 10 year anniversary this month. Congrats Soc Images! And this week they explore how LSD opened minds and changed America.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies remembers Simone Veil (1927-2017).
• Families As They Really Are revisits making men visible in nursing and reproductive health.
• Cyborgology talks sex workers’ concerns about Snapchat’s Snap Map.

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Happy July everyone! This week we’ve got new pieces on how moving affects adolescents, how gangs use social media, how marital status affects voting behavior, and much more. So grab yourself a summer drink and soak in some sociology.

There’s Research on That!:

“Gangs on Social Media,” by Caity Curry. Social science shows that gang members use social media to promote their gang identity and gain notoriety, but the social organization of gangs determines their online behavior.

Discoveries:

“How Moving Affects Adolescent Delinquency,” by Amber Joy Powell. New research in Social Forces finds that the more adolescents move, the more likely they are to engage in delinquent behavior.

Clippings:

“Why Single Women are More Likely to Vote for Liberal Candidates,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Leah Ruppanner, Kelsy Kretschmer, and Christopher Stout explain how marital status influences voting habits in RawStory.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Religion: Greater Acceptance, Persisting Antipathy since Civil Rights Era,” by Jerry Park, Joshua Tom, and Brita Andercheck.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Families As They Really Are revisits multiracial dividends and persistent hierarchies.
• Engaging Sports talks sport behind bars and the 20th Jewish Olympics.
• Sociological Images explains how algorithms replace your biases with someone else’s and asks if liberals are happier than conservatives.
• Cyborgology talks sexual harassment at Exxxotica and Twitter as a form of resistance.

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