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Hey everyone! Lots of great new stuff this week, including a new Office Hours podcast. So let’s get to it!

Office Hours:

“Natasha Warikoo on The Diversity Bargain,” with Neeraj Rajasekar. In this episode, we talk with Warikoo about her new book and the ways that elite students understand diversity and make sense of their social positions.

There’s Research on That!:

“White Working Class Voters,” by Erik Kojola. The election of Donald Trump left many wondering why large numbers of working class whites voted for a candidate who supports policies that are likely to have a negative impact on them. You guessed it — there’s research on that. 

“Gendering Intelligence,” by Sarah Catherine Billups. A recent study found that young girls are more likely to attribute “brilliance” to men. Research on gender stereotypes and socialization helps explain why.

Discoveries:

“Violence Against Police Triggers Race-Specific Reactions,” by Caity Curry. New research in American Journal of Sociology explores how local acts of violence against police influences discriminatory use of force by police after the fact.

Clippings:

“Overeducated, Underemployed,” by Chelsea Carlson. Tressie McMillan Cottom talks to The Washington Post about why many African Americans are overeducated, yet underemployed. 

“Sociological Strategies For a Successful Protest,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Vox draws on numerous sociological studies to suggest the best strategies for effecting change.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Families As They Really Are explains how housing support programs influence families.
• Sociological Images talks manspreading and the demographics of the women’s march.
• Engaging Sports reflects on Rio 2016’s legacy and calls for an end to “podium girls.”

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Hello hello! We’ve had another big week here at TSP, and have lots of great things to share with you. To start, we welcomed another blog to our community pages, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Check out their blog for an extensive archive of engaging commentary and research related to genocide studies. And our amazing grad board is back for the semester, which means we are back in full force on the site. We’ve got great new pieces on Trump’s cabinet, women’s movements, environmental policy, and more. So let’s get to it!

The Editor’s Desk:

In case you missed it, we celebrated the 5th anniversary of TSP last Friday. Woot! On the Eds’ Desk this week, Doug and Chris celebrate and reflect on the past five years and preview what’s to come.

There’s Research on That!:

“Divesting Diversity on the Presidential Cabinet,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. While social science shows that diversity is beneficial for business and organizations, the definition of “diversity” is often warped to avoid any real discussion of inequality.

“When Women Mobilize,” by Jacqui Frost. A look at research on past women’s movements sheds light on the ways that gender shapes when and how women protest, and the important roles they have played in social movement history.

“Barriers Keeping Women from STEM Careers,” by Amber Joy Powell. Research on race, gender, and education reveals why women remain hidden figures in STEM.

Discoveries:

“To Enforce or Encourage Green Behavior?,” by Erik Kojola. New research in Sociological Spectrum finds that environmental regulations alone will not reduce public health and environmental hazards from chemical pollution.

Clippings:

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

“Okay Google, Give Me the Facts,” by Edgar Campos. The Conversation talks to Thomas Maher about how to keep “fake news” from manipulating Google’s search algorithms.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“The Women’s March Was Only the Beginning,” by Dana R. Fisher.

“The Day After: Women’s March on Washington,” by Philip N. Cohen.

“Trump’s America Comes to Washington,” by Philip N. Cohen.

Scholars Strategy Network:

“What Trump Means for the Affordable Care Act,” by Colleen Grogan and Sherry Glied.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Engaging Sports talks politics and sports media and how sports create unity.
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies explains the futility of “Never Again” and remembers Wannsee.
• Girl w/Pen! discusses advocacy and activism for girls.
• ThickCulture explores the democratic function of the Women’s March.

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Hello and Happy New Year from TSP! We were out last week, so we have a lot of great stuff to share. We have some new pieces from around the site to highlight, and we continue recognizing our Best Of and Most Popular posts from 2016. Also, in case you missed it, the latest issue of Contexts is available for free online until Jan. 20! So grab a warm beverage and start your year off right with some sweet sociology.

Discoveries:

“Fatalistic Suicide in a Tight-Knit Community,” by Sarah Catherine Billups. Durkheim thought fatalistic suicide was the least common type, but new research in ASR finds it to be quite common in small communities.

“Sex and Cardiovascular Risk in Old Age,” by Edgar Campos. A new study in JHSB explores the varied health risks and benefits of sexual activity and the ways they affect men and women differently.

TSP Specials:

*~!BEST OF 2016!~*
“The Whitelash Against Diversity,” by Jennifer Lee. Voted best Special Feature by the TSP grad board, in this piece Jennifer Lee highlights research that helps explain the significant “whitelash” among white Americans that resulted in a Trump presidency.

There’s Research on That!:

*~!BEST OF 2016!~*
“When ‘Nice Guys’ Rape,” by Amber Joy Powell. Feminist scholarship highlights the pervasiveness of rape culture and helps pinpoint how it reproduces notions that only “bad guys” commit “real rape.”

Clippings:

“How Post-Election Questions Burden People of Color,” by Caty Taborda-Whitt. In a candid conversation with Slate, Tressie McMillan Cottom describes the emotional labor that these post-election interactions demand from people of color.

“Life Expectancy and Inequality,” by Edgar Campos. The Huffington Post talks to Jarron Saint Onge about reports that life expectancy dropped in the United States for the first time in two decades.

*~!BEST OF 2016!~*
“Crossing an “Empathy Bridge” to Understand Trump Supporters,” by Elizabeth Tremmel. Arlie Russell Hochschild talks with Wisconsin Public Radio about her research with conservatives in Louisiana.

*~!MOST POPULAR 2016!~*
“The Noble Poverty in Kids’ Movies,” by Allison Nobles. In the most viewed Clipping of 2016, New York Magazine features research helmed by sociologist Jessi Streib on how Disney downplays social class.

Office Hours:

*~!BEST OF 2016!~*
“Jooyoung Lee on Blowin’ Up: Rap Dreams in South Central,” with Matthew Aguilar-Champeau. Our Best Of 2016 podcast episode features a conversation with professor Jooyoung Lee about his research and his many skills – from ethnography to dance.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“How Passers-by and Policymakers View Beggars in American Communities,” by Shai Dromi.

“Why Does Immigration Arouse Deep Feelings and Conflicts?” by John D. Skrentny.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“The Evidence is in: Progressive Policies Strengthen Families,” by Molly McNulty.

Contexts:

Fall 2016 Table of Contents

“Darker Skin, Harsher Sentence,” by Lucia Lykke.

“Viewpoints on Financial Foreclosures.”

1.  “Too Small to Help, Too Poor To Trust,” by Frederick F. Wherry, Kristin S. Seefeldt, and Anthony S. Alvarez.
2. “Can Ethnography Improve the Culture of Finance?” by Daniel Beunza.
3. “Financial Entertainment and the Public Sphere,” by Alex Preda.
4. “The End of the American Dream,” by Kevin Leicht.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Girl w/Pen explains how better journalism is good for women.
• Sociology Toolbox rounds up sociologists’ reflections on Trump’s election.
• Cyborgology reflects on the culture of work.
• Families As They Really Are talks marriage education and progressive family policies.

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Even though such things are socially constructed and culturally specific … Happy Holidays from TSP! We are officially done with the fall semester here in Minneapolis, but we still have some great new pieces for you this week. We are also kicking off our annual round of *Best of 2016* posts, and this week we highlight our Best Discovery of 2016. See below and stay tuned for more!

There’s Research on That!:

“Oh By Golly, What is Poly?,” by Allison Nobles. The holidays are all the more difficult to navigate if you have more than one partner to consider, and we’ve rounded up some recent research that sheds light on the hows and whys of polyamory.

Discoveries:

“The ‘Facebook Effect’ on Religiosity,” by Jacqui Frost. New research in Sociological Perspectives finds that young adults who use social media are more likely to be “syncretists” who pick and choose various beliefs and practices from multiple religions, rather than adhering strictly to one traditional doctrine.

*~!BEST OF 2016!~*
“Extending the “Crime Scene” into the Community, by Ryan Larson. Voted the Best Discovery of 2016 by the TSP Grad Board, this piece summarizes recent research in Sociological Science that finds communities of color are more likely to experience stop and frisk activity after a violent crime.

Clippings:

“The Persistence of Sexual Double Standards,” by Allison Nobles. Broadly draws on research from Rachel Allison and Barbara Risman to explain how women are still more likely than men to be judged negatively for past sexual decisions.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Why Politically Active Billionaires Threaten the Health of Democracy,” by Darrell M. West.

Council on Contemporary Families:

3 Questions with Pallavi Banerjee: Immigration/Politics/Talk, by Eunice Owusu.

Contexts:

“Rule Without Referees,” by Philip Vlahakis.

“Sociology Teach-in on Trump at UC-Merced,” by Zulema Valdez.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images asks if a cat can make a community.
• Girl w/Pen talks black women in TV.
• Cyborgology lists the things they did like about 2016.

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Happy Friday everyone! We hope you are staying warm and getting close to wrapping up your fall semesters. We have some great new pieces this week, including a new podcast episode with Vanesa Ribas and a new special feature by Penny Edgell. As we head into the break, in addition to posting new pieces every week as usual, we will be highlighting our “Best Of 2016” nominees from around the site, so keep an eye out for great stuff you may have missed throughout the year.

TSP Special Features:

“Seeing the White in Christian America,” by Penny Edgell. In this new special feature, Edgell explains how race, over and above religion, drove white evangelicals to vote for Trump. She argues that blanket statements about “evangelicals” that ignore differences between white and non-white Christians can work to perpetuate a culture of white privilege that systematically denies that whites, too, have racial identities and interests.

Office Hours:

“Vanesa Ribas on Immigration to the New South,” with Erik Kojola. In our most recent podcast, we talk with Ribas about her new book that examines race and labor dynamics in a meat packing plant in rural North Carolina.

There’s Research on That!:

“Who (Dis)Trusts Science?,” by Caty Taborda-Whitt. Research shows that trust in science is much more closely linked to political and religious commitments than educational attainment.

Discoveries:

“Stigma by Association: Adult Children and Parental Incarceration,” by Amber Joy Powell. Are adult children able to create a prosocial identity outside of their parents’ felony status? New research in Deviant Behavior says yes.

Clippings:

“Supermarkets and Stratification,” by Caity Curry. The Rivard Report highlights research from Heather O’Connell, Jenifer Bratter, and Lester King that finds a “tri-racial system of social stratification” in terms of access to supermarkets in Houston, TX.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“The Harm Done by Media Coverage of Political Disputes about Public Health Measures,” Erika Fowler and Sarah Gollust.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Revisit: Remember the Ladies Men,” by Virginia Rutter.

Contexts:

“Faculty Unions, Don’t Fold Your Winning Hand!” by Syed Ali.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images talks class v.s. education among Trump supporters.
• Cyborgology warns against the dangers of an ahistorical view of science.

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Hey everyone. Most of us are still reeling from the election results, so we are introducing our Roundup this week with a few lines from co-editor Doug Hartmann’s reflection the morning after —

“It is important not to try to grapple with this individually and on our own but to do so openly and collectively and even across the usual political lines if possible. This is about taking care of each other and ourselves. It is about healing and reflection. It is about moving forward and preparing for next steps.”

The Editors’ Desk:

“Mornings After in America.” Doug’s reflection on the U.S. presidential election results reminds us, and himself, that we have been through this before and that social change is a long and hard process.

“Beyonce, the Dixie Chicks, and Country Brilliance.” The Atlantic offered great sociological insights into Beyonce’s visit to the Country Music Awards.

There’s Research on That!:

“Marvel, Masculinity, and Racial Diversity in Comic Books,” by Matthew Aguilar-Champeau.  Netflix’s Luke Cage is the most recent manifestation of the long and sometimes troubled history of racial diversity in comic books.

“Consuming the Pain of the “Other” Through Media Images,” by j. Siguru Wahutu. “Images of pain and suffering are less about an increase in ‘bad’ things happening and more about how  we understand the consumption of pain, suffering, and death of victims that are ‘Other’.”

Discoveries:

“Criminal Justice Reform Limited to Nonviolent Offenses,” by Caity Curry. New research in The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science finds that policy and discourse surrounding criminal justice reform is limited to nonviolent offenders and economic benefits rather than the broader human costs of incarceration. 

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Why Beards and Mustaches are Rare for Modern American Politicians,” by Rebekah Herrick.

Council on Contemporary Families:

Women Have Made the Difference for Family Economic Security,” by Molly McNulty.

Contexts:

“Feminist Fight Club, for Grad Students?” by Angie O’Brien and Rose Malinowski Weingartner.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images talks the radical fact of the female vote.
• Sociological Toolbox shows that the U.S. is way behind the rest of the world re: female leaders.
• Cyborgology outlines the politics of affinity among the disappointed left.

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Hello hello! We’ve got a great roundup for you this week, with numerous pieces offering sociological strategies and advice – from reducing gun violence, to freeing innocent prisoners, to getting a date on Tinder. See below for all that and more.

TSP Special Features:

“Can Prosecutors Help Free Innocent Prisoners?,” by Elizabeth Webster. Our new special feature explores how Conviction Review Units can help keep law enforcement accountable and work to reduce wrongful convictions.

There’s Research on That!:

“Strategies for Reducing Gun Violence,” by Ryan Larson. Social science sheds light on the rates and distribution of gun violence, as well as the most effective strategies to reduce it.

“Not so Natural Disasters,” by Erik Kojola. Hurricanes – so called natural disasters –  are not simply the result of the weather but become “disasters” because of how society shapes people’s risks and how people prepare, adapt, and respond.

“Women in Male-Dominated Fields,” by Allison Nobles. Research on the ways women’s work is devalued highlights the hurdles that Hillary Clinton is up against as she attempts to enter a male-dominated field.

Discoveries:

“Atheists Still ‘Other’?” by Amber Joy Powell. Despite an increased awareness of atheists and other non-religious people over the last decade, Americans still distance themselves from the non-religious.

Clippings:

 “Why We Love Autumn,” by Edgar Campos. Kathryn Lively talks to the Huffington Post about the popularity of autumn.

“How to Get that Right Swipe,” by Caity Curry. A little sociological online dating advice from Tinder sociologist Jessica Carbino.

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Why Marijuana Legalization Is Inevitable—And Wise,” by Raymond Hogler.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“As American as Divorce,” by Braxton Jones.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images talks interracial rape and colorism in India.
• Families As They Really Are revisits the beliefs of men in traditional marriages.
• Cyborgology explores meme droughts and the war on science.

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Hey everyone! We’ve got tons of great research and writing across the site this week. Enjoy!

TSP Special Feature:

“The Untold Asian American Success Story,” by Jennifer Lee, Jess Lee, and Oshin Khachikian. A new special feature reveals three “untold stories” of Asian American mobility and success.

Office Hours:

“Jooyoung Lee on Blowin’ Up: Rap Dreams in South Central,” with Matthew Aguilar-Champeau. Our latest podcast episode features a conversation with professor Jooyoung Lee about his research and his many skills – from ethnography to dance.

There’s Research on That!:

“The Illusion of Media Objectivity,” by j. Siguru Wahutu. Despite ideals of media objectivity, social scientists find that political reporting is far from unbiased.

“Indigenous Health,” by Allison Nobles. Social science researchers point to a number of social and historical factors that help explain why Native Americans and Alaskan Natives have lower life expectancies than any other U.S. racial group.

Discoveries:

“From Glass Ceilings to Class Ceilings,” by Jacqui Frost. New research on Britain in the American Sociological Review finds that even when people who are from working-class backgrounds are successful in entering a high-status occupation, they earn an average of 17% less than individuals from privileged backgrounds in that same occupation.

Clippings:

“Police Brutality Leads to Fewer 911 calls,” by Chelsea Carlson. Matt Desmond, Andrew Papachristos, and David Kirk talked to The Atlantic about the consequences of police violence.

“More Fun For Dads Means More Stress For Moms,” by Allison Nobles. The Huffington Post recently featured sociologist Ann Meier and her research on the division of parenting labor.

“The Shawshank Restriction? Penal Laws and Felon Disenfranchisement,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Our very own Chris Uggen, Ryan Larson, and Sarah Shannon were featured in The New York Times and elsewhere for their research on felon disenfranchisement. See the full report here.

“Students of All Backgrounds Prefer Teachers of Color,” by Caty Taborda-Whitt. Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng and Peter Halpin discuss their research on students’ perceptions of their teachers with NPR.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Forward or Back on Voting Rights? A Research Compendium.” A collection of SSN posts on voting rights and regulations.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Is TANF Working for Struggling Millennial Parents?” by Shawn Fremstad.

Contexts:

“Maybe Government Could Actually Work,” by Joey Brown.

“Torture and Scientism,” by Steven Ward.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Girl w/Pen! has some thoughts on “locker room talk”
• Cyborgology traces the history of bathrooms and trans rights
• Sociological Images interrogates Trump’s science of group conflict
• Families As They Really Are finds that millennials may have found a new secret to sexual happiness.

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Hello and happy Friday everyone! We’ve got some great new pieces for your perusal below, and be sure to stop by throughout the week for the latest.

There’s Research on That!:

“Hillary, Interrupted,” by Caty Taborda-Whitt. Research reveals the impetus behind Trump’s many interruptions during the first presidential debate and the gender inequality it perpetuates.

“When Public School Is No Longer Public,” by Elizabeth Tremmel. Are charter schools as “public” as they are defined to be? Sociologists find that they operate in legal gray areas, making their distinctions from public schools complicated.

“You Can’t Sit with Us,” by Sarah Catherine Billups. In the spirit of National Bullying Prevention Month, we round up research on who gets bullied and why.

Discoveries:

“Gender-based Violence Against Men in Darfur,” by j. Siguru Wahutu. “Although this violence is in some ways about physical domination, it is primarily meant to symbolically dominate and denigrate both the victims and surviving community members.”

Clippings:

“The Patterns of Police Force,” by Ryan Larson. Sociologist Joscha Legewie talks about the ways police are more likely to use force against black suspects after the shooting of a police officer.

“The Influence of Naturalized Voters, by Edgar Campos. Writing for the LA Times, sociologist Manuel Pastor discusses the potential impact of newly naturalized citizens if they show up at the polls in November.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

“Hamilton’s Immigrant America,” by Philip Kasinitz.

“Gender Politics and Taming the Alpha Male Harem Master,” by Mimi Schippers.

“The Problem of Urban Sprawl,” by Thomas Laidley.

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Strict Voter Identification Laws Advantage Whites—And Skew American Democracy to the Right,” by Zoltan Hajnal, Nazita Lajevardi, and Lindsay Nielson.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Is TANF Working for Struggling Millennial Parents?” by Shawn Fremstad.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Girl w/Pen! talks manhood and violence against women.
• Feminist Reflections asks what women have to do with men’s salons.
• Families As They Really Are investigates why the “ethnic” aisle is merging with the “beauty” aisle.
• Sociological Images explores how “pink ribbon culture” harms breast cancer patients and survivors.

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The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder – so grab a warm beverage and curl up with some great social science!

The Editors’ Desk:

“The Return of Revolt – Tommie Smith and John Carlos Go to Washington.” Editor Doug Hartmann reflects on his first book about athlete protests and how things have and have not changed since.

There’s Research on That!:

“Problem-Oriented Policing in an Age of Protest,” by Amber Joy Powell. Research is mixed on whether or not problem-oriented policing strategies are effective.

“Whose Nation, Whose Parks?” by Erik Kojola and Jacqui Frost. In conjunction with the recent centennial celebration of the National Park Service, we look to research on who actually gets the most out of national parks and the racial and ethnic inequalities their creation often stems from.

“Protesting Prison Conditions,” by Caity Curry. The recent prison protests highlight not only unpaid labor but also issues of dismal healthcare and high rates of suicide in prisons, as well as the overuse of solitary confinement.

Discoveries:

“Are Warming Temperatures a Scientific Consensus or Hoax? It Depends on Your Political Party,” by Erik Kojola. New research maps the significant divergence in opinions about climate change causes and consequences among Democrats and Republicans over the past decade.

Clippings:

“Crossing an ‘Empathy Bridge’ to Understand Trump Supporters,” by Elizabeth Tremmel. Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild talks with Wisconsin Public Radio about her research with conservatives in Louisiana.

“What Makes a ‘Successful’ Immigrant?” by Neeraj Rajasekar. “Unlike other immigrant groups whose parents are more likely to have college degrees, Mexican second-gen immigrants have experienced the most ‘success,’ overcoming the odds of often being the first person in their family to attend college.”

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

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

Council on Contemporary Families:

“TANF Policy to Address Low, Volatile Income among Disadvantaged Families,” by Bradley Hardy. 

Contexts:

“Bonfires of Belfast,” by David Schalliol.

“Middle-class Moms Managing Black Sons’ Vulnerability,” by Brittany Dernberger.

“Expressing Depression,” by  Lucia Lykke.

“Career Plans Aren’t Family Plans,” by Moriah Willow.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Sociological Images looks at selfies in high schools and media coverage of domestic violence.
• Girl w/Pen! discusses when sexy media matters.
• Families As They Really Are revisits family income versus family structure and affordable childcare.

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