Scientific developments in the field of epigenetics have called attention to intergenerational transfers of trauma. We know now that traumatic experiences can be passed down through the genes— to children, and even grandchildren, of the survivors of horrific experiences like the Holocaust or American slavery. Sociology can help show how past trauma is passed down […]

Since the January 6 Assault on Capitol Hill, scholars, reporters, and politicians have tried to make sense of the violent insurrection. Many draw from fundamental sociological lessons to make sense of violence, place it in historical context, and help readers navigate the ongoing political turmoil. (A collection of posts from recent years on Contexts captures […]

The Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s present but another case where casualty numbers are highly politicized— manipulated and employed by various actors to serve their interests. Twenty years after the wars in the former Yugoslavia ended, debates continue about their naming, framing, and death tolls. These debates are so polarized that the various ethnic groups […]

Deni Mazrekaj, Kristof De Witte, and Sofie Cabus, “School Outcomes of Children Raised by Same-Sex Parents: Evidence from Administrative Panel Data,” American Sociological Review, 2020 While support for gay marriage has grown steadily over the past 15 years, 31% of adult Americans still oppose it. Opponents of same-sex marriage argue that it is harmful to […]

  While gun violence in the US has been covered widely in the media in recent years, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the critical role of gender in both its causes and impacts. For example, 88 percent of US homicides are committed by men, who are almost twice as likely to be gun […]