Midwest Sociology
Research
Schools Shrink Home-grown Gaps in Math and Reading
Paul T. von Hippel, Joseph Workman, Douglas B. Downey, “Inequality in Reading and Math Skills Forms Mainly before Kindergarten: A Replication, and Partial Correction, of “Are Schools the Great Equalizer?,” Sociology of Education, 2018 There are two understandings of how schools affect inequality. On the one hand, evidence suggests that schools increase inequality by providing […]
Is Calculus Integral?
Daniel Douglas and Paul Attewell, “School Mathematics as Gatekeeper,” The Sociological Quarterly, 2017 High school math teachers may have a new answer to the perpetual student question, “Why do we have to learn this?” Researchers who study education stratification know that math serves as a gatekeeper to advanced high school degrees, selective colleges, and sought-after […]
The Power, Privilege, and Politics of Victim Rights Movements
During this year’s midterm elections, six states adopted Marsy’s Law, a measure that aims to amend state constitutions so that they treat victims’ rights as equal to defendants’ rights in the criminal justice system. Observers like the American Civil Liberties Union warn that the law circumvents due process — particularly the presumption of innocence — by […]
Greener Grass, Fewer Crimes?
Green areas are widely recognized as an indicator of development and social wellbeing, but the relationship between nature and crimes is only beginning to come into view. How might natural spaces reduce crime rates? Economic Development Green space interventions enhance the visual appearance of an area and motivate movement and participation, which can increase economic […]
Counting Incarceration’s Lives, Lost and Saved
Michael T. Light and Joey Marshall, “On the Weak Mortality Returns of the Prison Boom: Comparing Infant Mortality and Homicide in the Incarceration Ledger,” Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 2017 The expansion of the U.S. criminal justice system is often justified in the name of public safety. While incarceration does have crime-reducing capabilities, it […]
How Hate Hangs On
Originally Posted at Discoveries After the 2016 Presidential election in the United States, Brexit in the UK, and a wave of far-right election bids across Europe, white supremacist organizations are re-emerging in the public sphere and taking advantage of new opportunities to advocate for their vision of society. While these groups have always been quietly […]
Dance, Authenticity, and Multiculturalism
Hui Nui Wilcox and Erika Busse, “’Authentic’ Dance and Racialized Ethnic Identities in Multicultural America: The Chinese in Minnesota and Peruvians in New Jersey,” Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 2017 Dance is important as a form of expression, and for immigrant communities, dance can be a way to maintain a connection with their home countries. […]
Progress and Uncertainty for LGBTQ Communities
American attitudes towards transgender and gender nonconforming persons might be changing. Earlier this month, voters elected six transgender officials to public office in the United States, and poll data from earlier this year suggests the majority of Americans oppose transgender bathroom restrictions and support LGBT nondiscrimination laws. Yet, data on attitudes toward transgender folks is […]
About Midwest Sociology
Midwest Sociology is a partnership between the Midwest Sociological Society and The Society Pages dedicated to bringing sociology–especially sociology produced in our region– to broader public visibility and influence.
