Friday Roundup

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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The fall semester is winding down, but we here at TSP are still working hard to bring you the latest in sociological research and writing. See below for this week’s new content, including pieces on the pitfalls of polling, the prevalence of academic gossip, and the decline of diners.

There’s Research on That!:

“Polling, Sampling, and Social Conditioning,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Social scientists are all too aware of the problems and pitfalls that are inherent in polling and survey research. We highlight some common issues that may help explain why predictions for the 2016 election were so different from the results.

“Religion, Politics, and Media in Africa and America,” by j. Siguru Wahutu and Evan Stewart. Comparisons between the two countries reveal similarities in the role of religion and politics in the media across the globe.

Discoveries:

“Academic Gossip and its Unintended Consequences,” by Caty Taborda. New research finds that scientists use gossip to informally police one another and warn newcomers about untrustworthy colleagues.

Clippings:

“The Diner Decline,” by Elizabeth Tremmel. The New York Times uses research by Ray Oldenburg to explain how we lose more than comfort food when we phase out diners in our neighborhoods.

“Trump, the NRA, and the Mobilization of Fear,” by Chelsea Carlson. Scott Melzer talks to The Trace about how Trump and the NRA use the social movement strategy of fear mobilization to garner support.

“Motherhood Penalty Costs More for High Earning Women,” by Allison Nobles. Bloomberg talks to Paula England about new research that shows how the motherhood penalty may be worse for women who make more money.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“How the Reproductive Justice Movement Benefits Latinas,” by Rocio Garcia.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“From the Folks Who Brought You the Weekend – What Unions Do for Women,” by Ruth Milkman.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Feminist Reflections reflects on straight men’s marriageability across the class divide.
• Sociological Images talks hate crimes after the election and feminist edits to princess stories.
• Girl w/Pen critiques calls to embrace meaningless changes in representations of female beauty.

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Hello and happy Friday all! Since we did not do a regular Roundup last week, we have a lot to catch you up on, so we’ll get right to it –

There’s Research on That!:

“Who Are Fair Trade Deals Good For?,” by Erik Kojola. NAFTA and its merits have been a major topic in this year’s election. But who benefits from these kinds of trade deals and who doesn’t? We have research on that.

“Sick Days and Toughing it Out,” by Elizabeth Tremmel. Wondering whether or not you should call into work because of your cold? Your decision is likely influenced by your social surroundings.

“Juries and Racial Bias,” by Caity Curry.  The recent Peña-Rodriguez v. Colorado case got us thinking about the racial make-up of juries and its implications for sentencing.

“Minorities in Television,” by Amber Joy Powell and Neeraj Rajasekar. While the increase in minority characters has been a major stride for equal on-air representation, sociological research suggests other problems and pitfalls remain.

Office Hours:

“Douglas Hartmann on Midnight Basketball,” with Matthew Aguilar-Champeau. In our latest podcast episode, co-host Matthew chats with Doug about his new book and the 1990s crime initiative that still influences sports, race, and social policy today.

Discoveries:

“Fighting Sports Arena Funding,” by Edgar Campos. New research in the Sociology of Sport Journal investigates why opposition to the public funding of large sports arenas often fails.

Clippings:

“Escaping Reality with Virtual Love,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Masahiro Yamada talks to The Guardian about the constraints of dating and relationships in Japan and why Japanese youth are turning to virtual love as a result.

“The Resiliency of the Death Penalty in the United States,” by Caity Curry. Public Radio International asks Susan Sharp about the continued support for the death penalty in the U.S.

“NFL Suspensions: From Fines to the Sidelines,” by Edgar Campos. TSP’s Doug Hartmann is featured in a recent New York Times article about effective punishments in the NFL.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“How Rights Movements Can Deal with Backlashes against Supreme Court Decisions,” by Alexander Lovell.

“Why Laws Targeting Non-Citizen Immigrants Affect Citizen Family Members and Associates, Too,” by Jane Lilly López.

Council on Contemporary Families:

“Revisit: Sexual Assault on Campus,” by Elizabeth Armstrong and Jamie Budnick.

“Gender Inequalities in Dual-Earner, College Educated Couples and the Transition to Parenthood,” by Jill Yavorsky, Claire Kamp Dush, and Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Girl w/Pen talks the normalization of sexual assault.
• Cyborgology explores the normalization of dissent and the rise of fake news stories.
• Families As They Really Are attempts secular listening at a prayer meeting.
• Sociological Images weighs the symbolic values of the safety pen and asks what would happen if America defined itself as a nation of renters.

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Hello everyone! We are taking a break from our regular Roundup this week, but we do have a few things to share with you, including some nerdy social science jokes and cute animal pictures (you’re welcome). We’ll be back with a full report next Friday, but do stop by the site if you are in need of some reading and/or listening material over the weekend.

For many of us, this weekend will be full of conversations with friends and family we don’t see often. Given the heightened tensions surrounding the U.S. presidential election, there are a few posts around TSP this week that offer suggestions for constructively engaging with friends and family who have different political views. Below are some highlights —

There’s Research on That!:

“Table Talk for Thanksgiving,” by the TSP Grad Board.

“Research shows that family dinner does not actually increase well-being in and of itself – it only works if the meal-time discussion is used to actually engage with those at the table and learn about their day-to-day lives. In other words, ‘polite’ conversation may not be the best way to bring everyone together.”

Contexts:

“The Case for Seeing Your Trump-voting Family this Holiday Season,” by Brittany Dernberger.

“There’s a lot of power in being in relationship with others. Taking off our ‘expert’ academic hats, getting outside of our intellectual and likeminded echo chambers, and really listening and sharing with people we love who have divergent viewpoints can be illuminating.”

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Hello and happy Friday all. Like many of you and others, we are continuing to grapple with the U.S. election, and a number of pieces around the site this week are reflections on what got us here and projections about what it might mean for social policy, social justice, and social science.

The Editors’ Desk:

“The 2016 Election and the Vocation of Social Science,” by TSP co-editor Chris Uggen. Chris anticipates some of the obstacles that social science research will face in the near future, and urges social scientists to work with, not against, one another to overcome them.

“Sociologist-on-sociologist violence will get us nowhere … The Society Pages believes that sociology needs a ‘big tent’ to prosper – one embracing both our pure science wing and our social activist wing. Because we don’t have a lot of weight to throw around, we’d likely be further diminished if we ‘cleave it in twain.’ So I’m going to continue to love all y’all – even when y’all disagree.”

Special Features:

“The Whitelash Against Diversity,” by Jennifer Lee. In this timely special feature, Lee highlights research that helps explain the significant “whitelash” among white Americans that resulted in a Trump presidency.

There’s Research on That!:

“The Meaning of Menstruation,” by Allison Nobles. Recent innovations in birth control are being used as a way to improve the quality of life for those of us who get periods, but these medical developments affect the social meaning of menstruation.

“UFC 205 and the Social Phenomenon of Major Sporting Events,” by Edgar Campos. Just in time for UFC 205, we highlight research on MMA fighting and why people love major sporting events.

Discoveries:

“Neighborhood Associations Need Time to Reduce Crime,” by Ryan Larson. New research in Criminology complicates the relationship between the presence of neighborhood associations and crime rates.

Clippings:

“Paternity Leave in Japan,” by Neeraj Rajasekar. Eunmi Mun talks to the Seeker about work and gender norms in Japan.

From Our Partners:

Contexts:

Editors Syed Ali and Philip Cohen offer their thoughts on what a Trump presidency means for sociologists in “Trumped.”

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Can Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Activists Recognize the Socioeconomic Realities of Abortion?” by Hannah Phillips.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Families As They Really Are talks mass incarceration as family policy and women’s economic empowerment.
• Sociology Toolbox explores the trust gap and US climate change policy.
• Cyborgology reflects on the lineage of Trump memes and the limits of being reasonable.
• Sociological Images explains how the AT&T/Time Warner merger reproduces racial inequality.

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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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Well, we’ve got four days until the U.S. presidential election, and most of us are a mixture of nervous, excited, and exhausted. In preparation, see below for sociological takes on the candidates’ treatments of climate change, immigration, and “nasty women,” and follow us on social media to stay up to date throughout the week.

Roundtables:

“Climate Change and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election,” with Erik Kojola. Climate change has not been a major topic of the 2016 presidential debates, but the outcome of this election will have a major impact on climate change policies. We talk to J. Timmons Roberts, Riley Dunlap, and Eric Bonds about the political and social dynamics of climate change and what to expect from the presidential candidates in the coming months. 

The Editors’ Desk:

“Elijah Anderson and the Cosmopolitan Canopy on Vox,” by Doug Hartmann. Sociologists don’t often get to talk about their own work outside of academic conferences and journals. Doug commends Vox for breaking with that trend.

Office Hours:

“Joel Best on the Creepy Clown Craze,” with Ryan Larson. What’s up with all the creepy clowns lately? Tune in to our new episode of Office Hours to find out how the recent “clown uprising” connects to our popular mythologies.

There’s Research on That!:

“Nasty Women and the Reappropriation of Stigmatized Labels,” by Jacqui Frost. Social science research sheds light on the many ways derogatory labels are reappropriated and the potential strengths and weaknesses of this strategy for combating stigma.

“Reproductive Technologies and Social Inequality,” by Sarah Catherine Billups. New reproductive technologies certainly help growing families, but the costs and benefits are not distributed equally.

“Music Commercialization and Commemoration,” by Caity Curry and Amber Joy Powell. Nevermind‘s 25th anniversary got us thinking about music, culture, and commerce.

Discoveries:

“Same-gender Sex Outside of the University,” by Allison Nobles. “Although women in less privileged positions may have fewer choices in how they identify, they likely face less pressure to match their identities with their behavior.”

Clippings:

“Student Debt Hinders Degree Completion,” by Caity Curry. Sara Goldrick-Rab talks to Wisconsin Public Radio about the consequences of the rising cost of higher education.

“Not Every WikiLeak Passes Public Interest Test,” by Chelsea Carlson. Zeynep Tufekci spoke with NPR about the varied relevance of leaked information.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Unworkable Immigration Proposals From Donald Trump – And Other Republican Presidential Contenders,” by Anna O. Law.

Council on Contemporary Families:

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

Contexts:

“Indians and Cowboys and Everyone Else,” by Eamon Whalen.

“Friends with Academic Benefits,” by Janice McCabe.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Girl w/Pen! talks sexual violence against men.
• Cyborgology calls for papers for Theorizing the Web 2017.
• Feminist Reflections reflects on women’s participation in the 2016 election.
• Families As They Really Are explores the varied appeal of Trump’s chauvinism.

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Happy Friday! Whether you’re gearing up for the election, Halloween, or just a nice weekend where a little extra candy intake is likely to go unnoticed, we have some sociology on that. See below for our latest content and stop by for more!

The Editors’ Desk:

“‘They Out Here Sayin’ for $800:’ SNL’s Most Hilarious and Insightful Skit of the Season,” by Doug Hartmann. “Doug? Are you sure you’re ready to play Black Jeopardy?”

Teaching TSP:

“The Benefits of Reverse Outlines,” by Jack Delehanty. In the second installment of our Teaching Writing series, Jack offers some suggestions for integrating writing instruction with course content by using reverse outlines.

There’s Research on That!:

“Women in Law Enforcement,” by Amber Joy Powell. Research on female police officers suggests that they are less likely to use force, but are often expected to do more “emotional labor” than male officers.

“Brazil’s Sporting Exploits,” by Edgar Campos. Brazil has played host to quite a few sporting events recently. Was it worth it?

Discoveries:

“How We Remember Genocide,” by j. Wahutu Siguru. New research in Sociological Forum explores how survivors remember the causes of a genocide.

Clippings:

“The Selective Sympathies of Trump Supporters,” by Edgar Campos. Arlie Russell Hochschild talks to The New Yorker about the ways blue-collar white men selectively support “line cutting.”

“Why All the Trump Allegations are Surfacing at Once,” by Neeraj Rajasekar.  Brendan Nyhan tells New York Magazine why women might feel more confident speaking out against Trump now.

“What Kind of Nationalist Are You?,” by j. Wahutu Siguru. The Pacific Standard uses research by Bart Bonikowski and Paul DiMaggio to explain Trump’s version of nationalism.

From Our Partners:

Scholars Strategy Network:

“Why Online Activism Is Unlikely To Reduce Political Inequalities in the U.S.,” by Jennifer Oser, Marc Hooghe, and Sofie Marien.

And a Few from the Community Pages:

• Cyborgology talks technologies of menstruation and online gaming communities.
• Sociological Images dust off their Halloween archives.

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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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