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Welcome back! This week, we highlight new research on family planning campaigns that have unintended consequences, and we unveil the greatly anticipated winner of our Teaching with TSP contest.

Discoveries:

Quotas, Coercion, and Contraception by Allison Nobles. New research investigates how global family planning initiatives incentivize health clinics to convince–or coerce–women to use contraception.

Teaching TSP

Teach with TSP 2019 Winner: Introduction to Sociology TROT Project by Dr. Clare Forstie. This prize-winning assignment invites students to familiarize themselves with sociological research on a topic or question they find important, then summarize it in a compelling way for a public audience.

From Our Partners:

Council on Contemporary Families:

Definitive Evidence that Anti-Ageism Interventions Work by Ashton Applewhite.

Contexts:

Bad Boys or Exceptional Interrupters? by Rodrigo Martinez.

Building Broader Social Movements by Emily Campbell.

Love of Money Can’t Buy Happiness by Robyn Moore.

Gaming on Romance by Christine Tomlinson.

Whose Time Is It? Whites’ Time by Simone N. Durham.

All the Single Oldies? by Robyn Moore.

Love Me Tinder, Love Me Sweet by Jennifer Hickes Lundquist and Celeste Vaughan Curington.

TSP Classics:

There’s Research on That:

Vexed by Vaccination Refusals by Caty Taborda. Research on distrust of science and vaccinations, as well as network ties that spread medical knowledge—and sometimes skew it along the way.

Discoveries:

How Policy Promotes Parental Happiness by Brooke Chambers. Parents in the U.S. are some of the unhappiest in the world, and new research in the American Journal of Sociology argues that it likely has something to do with the lack of national parental support policies.

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Welcome back! This week at TSP we’ve got social science research on climate change and racial inequality, and how aggressive policing harms African American boys’ educational performance. We’ve also got a new teaching post on ice breaker activities that transition easily into course material.

Teaching TSP:

“Ice Breakers and Community Building in the Classroom,” by Andrea Krieg. In this post, Krieg gives three examples of ice breakers that can be used to build community in the classroom and seamlessly move into course content.

There’s Research on That!:

“The Color of Climate Change,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. We rounded up social science research on how climate change poses greater challenges for poorer, non-white communities in the United States and globally.

Discoveries:

“How Aggressive Policing Hurts School Performance,” by Caity Curry. New research in the American Sociological Review finds that aggressive policing policies hurt African American boys’ school performance.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“Big Data and the American Dream, An Interview with David Grusky,” by Reeve Vanneman.

Sociological Images:

“What Kind of ____ are You?” by Evan Stewart.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Sharenting Can be Controversial, But Are We Sure Parents Don’t Care about Their Children’s Social Media Presence?” by Davide Cino and Ellen Wartella.

Social Studies MN:

“The Minnesota Population Center,” by Neeraj Rajasekar.

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Hello sociology-fans! This week we’ve got new research on how gender matters for beer ratings, why senior citizens are spending more to help their grandchildren, and how The Great British Baking Show can help you give effective feedback.

Teaching TSP:

“The Great British Baking Show and Improving Student Feedback,” by Andrea Krieg. Krieg reflects on how judges from The Great British Baking Show can help teachers and mentors provide effective feedback.

There’s Research on That!:

“Bias and Transgender Personnel in the U.S. Military,” by Lucas Lynch. We rounded up social science research on military attitudes towards transgender personnel and misconceptions about the effects of transgender personnel on military readiness.

Discoveries:

“The Beer Glass Ceiling,” by Mark Lee. New research in Social Forces finds that female entrepreneurs must pass a high bar if they want to enter traditionally masculine fields, while men who make traditionally feminine products are given the benefit of the doubt.

Clippings:

“Seniors Tap Savings to Help Grandchildren,” by Amy August. In an interview for The Atlantic, sociologist Kathleen Gerson explains that sometimes grandparents provide help to the younger generations, even if doing so comes at a cost to themselves.

“U.S. Intervention and the Crisis in Venezuela,” by Lucas Lynch. In a recent article in The Nation, sociologists Tim Gill and Rebecca Hanson reflect on the importance of the chavistas in Venezuela’s presidential crisis.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“High-Class Hoaxes,” by Evan Stewart.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Not All Stepgrandparents are the Same: Long-term Versus Later-Life,” by Lawrence Ganong and Marilyn Coleman.

And from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology reflects on work and the value of data maintenance and narratives about the future.
• Dispatches from a Dean highlights a CityLab article on race, class, and bike-friendly cities.

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Hello friends! This week we’ve got research on political polarization, cross-class marriages, and the relationship between gender, reproductive decision-making and mental health. We’ve also got some great sociological takes on child support, as well as the decision to give kids an allowance.

There’s Research on That!:

“Cross-Class Marriages and Families,” by Amy August and Caity Curry. It’s almost Valentine’s Day and we’ve rounded up research on marriages between people with different class backgrounds.

“The Political Polarization Phenomenon,” by Allison J. Steinke. It seems like political polarization is everywhere, so we rounded up social science research on how we define political polarization and how much really exists.

Discoveries:

“Gender, Mental Illness, and Reproductive Decision Making,” by Caity Curry. New research in Society and Mental Health finds that mental health professionals use both coercive and non-coercive techniques in facilitating reproductive decisions for their clients diagnosed with mental illnesses like schizophrenia and major depression.

Clippings:

“Focus On The People, Not The Wall,” by De Andre’ T. Beadle. In a recent op-ed for the MinnPost, an interdisciplinary team of expert immigration scholars at the University of Minnesota reflects on administrative changes to the ‘public charge’ rule and its potential consequences.

“Childhood Chores as Community Obligations, Not Monetary Exchanges,” by Jean Marie Maier. The Atlantic talks to Heather Beth Johnson about community, inequality, and giving children allowances.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“Doing Gender with Backpacks,” Jacqui Frost.

Contexts:

“The Deadbeat Presidency,” by Rodrigo Dominguez-Martinez.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Who Goes to Jail for Child Support Debt?” Elizabeth Cozzolino.

Social Studies MN:

“Gendered Partisanship in the US House,” by Allison J. Steinke.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies features a valuable teaching resource.
• Cyborgology ponders opposing barometers between the digital news media and influencers.
• Dispatches from a Dean highlights an article about how misunderstandings of “Black English” can have serious consequences.

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Hi Everyone! We’re gearing up for another great semester here at TSP headquarters. This week we’re featuring our final honorable mention winner for our ‘Teach with TSP’ contest. Come back next week to see the winning submission! In new pieces, we’ve got research on the social experiences of infertility, why children re-enter the foster care system after being reunited with their parents, and the marriage market gap.

Teaching TSP:

“Teaching Gender with Blogging,” by Ruth M. Hernández. In this assignment, students write a blog post over the semester to explore a topic related to gender.

There’s Research on That!:

“Social Experiences of Infertility,” by Allison Nobles. Michelle Obama talks about her own struggles with fertility in her new book, so we rounded up research on the social experiences of infertility.

“Government Shutdown,” by TSP Editors. We brought back an oldie but goodie in light of the current U.S. government shutdown.

Discoveries:

“For Some Foster Children, “Permanency” Isn’t Permanent,” by Mark Lee. New research in the Journal of Marriage and Family finds that children who were placed in foster care because of parental substance abuse and neglect face greater challenges to being reunited with their parents for good.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“The Marriage Market Gap,” by Paige Miller.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Per Coontz, Equality is Agenda for All Working People Not Just Feminists,” by Virginia Rutter.

“Separating Migrant Families, as Practiced around the Globe,” by Maria Cecilia Hwang, Carolyn Choi, and Rhacel Parreñas.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies reflects on antisemitism in high schools, as well as the Genocide Convention 70 years later
• Dispatches from a Dean highlights a recent CityLab article visualizing how Americans commute to work.

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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! 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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Welcome to the first Friday the 13th of 2018. This week we’ve got new work on gender in waiting rooms, looking “illegal,” and why space matters…physical space, that is. But if you just got excited about UFOs, we’ve got that too!

There’s Research on That!:

“What Drives Punitive Attitudes in the United States?” by Caity Curry. We rounded up social science research on social factors that influence Americans’ punitive attitudes.

“Why Physical Space Matters for Universities,” by Isabel Arriagada. Social science research tells us that the way a space is organized matters greatly for the type of experience individuals have at universities and other organizations.

Discoveries:

“When Waiting is Women’s Work,” by Jean Marie DeOrnellas. New research in Sociological Forum finds that men and women in medical waiting rooms interact in ways that conform to gendered expectations and reinforce the conception that men’s time (and work) is more valuable than women’s.

Clippings:

“No, Immigrants Don’t Cause Crime,” by Brooke Chambers. The New York Times features research by Robert Adelman and colleagues demonstrating that increases in immigration do not cause increases in crime.

“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:

“What’s Trending? News Consumption,” by Ryan Larson, Evan Stewart, and Andrew M. Lindner.

“Redefining what it means to be #YourAverageMuslim,” by Inaash Islam.

Contexts:

“Looking ‘Illegal’,” by Chandra Reyna.

“Gunshops and Crime,” by Eric Stone.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“CCF 2018 Conference Report,” by Linda Young.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology reflects on humor and politics.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies interviews Carlo Tognato about post-conflict narratives.
• Girl w/ Pen! talks to Janelle Jones about racial wealth gaps and employment.

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Hello Again! As we wrap up March and move into April, we’ve got social science research on fashion, a look at what makes discrimination trend on Twitter, and the prevalence of “white flight” in America.

There’s Research on That!:

“Professionalization in the Working World,” by Jean Marie DeOrnellas. In light of the high rates of turnover in Washington, D.C., we rounded up social science research on professionalization.

“Fashioning Fashion, Creating Couture: Part I,” by Sarah Catherine Billups. We’ve got sociological research on why fashion is a valuable case for understanding social life.

Discoveries:

“What Makes Discrimination Trend on Twitter?” by Brooke Chambers. New research in the American Journal of Sociology finds that after the passage of Arizona’s SB 1070 law, people who previously held an anti-immigrant stance posted tweets with greater negative content more frequently.

Clippings:

“Me Too on the Manufacturing Line,” by Jasmine Syed. The New York Times talks to Abigail Saguy about gender discrimination in blue-collar workplaces.

“White Flight Still Drives Neighborhood Segregation,” by Caity Curry. The Pacific Standard highlights recent research by Samuel Kye showing that white flight remains a reality in many American neighborhoods.

From Our Partners:

Sociological Images:

“‘Concerted Cultivation’ and the March For Our Lives,” by Jay Livingston.

“When Data Can’t DJ,” by Evan Stewart.

Contexts:

“Trump365,” by Rashawn Ray and Fabio Rojas.

“The Algorithmic Rise of the ‘Alt-Right’,” by Jessie Daniels.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“50 years since the LeClair Affair, Is Living Together Outside of Marriage a Problem?” by Arielle Kuperberg.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology reflects on A.I. assistants and gender.

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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