Volume 41 • Number 4 • May/June 2013
Looking forward to the 2013 Annual Meeting inside Williamsburg, Brooklyn: Capital of Cool Sharon Zukin, new African American Brooklyn College and migrants from southern Graduate Center, Webinars for states and Spanish- 4 CUNY speaking families from Professional Puerto Rico and the Development alf a century ago, Brooklyn was Hthe borough of New York City Dominican Republic, Learn more about where tight-knit communities of who made the borough professional development, second-generation Irish, Italian, an even more multi- teaching, and department Jewish, and Scandinavian immi- ethnic and multi- leadership through ASA grants hunkered down in waterfront cultural living space, Webinars. neighborhoods against the forces of though not without postwar change. arousing hostility and 5 An American in Australia They confronted the arrival of violence. Statistics teaching may not container shipping, which effectively During the 1960s be its strong suit, but in closed down the port where so many and 1970s, many Australia professors receive a had worked, and the removal of fac- Brooklynites moved great deal of support. tories and outsourcing of manufac- east to newly developed turing jobs, first to cheaper areas in areas of Queens and the Map of Brooklyn neighborhoods,
from the executive officer Social Sciences under Attack—Again and Worse The federal budget debates of the past several months have placed the social sciences in policymakers’ crosshairs. n late March of this year with the world—open, accessible and reliable and timely data necessary ence associations, the ASA is plan- Ipassage of HR 933, Senator Tom merit-based regardless of per- to guide the effective distribution of ning to test the effectiveness of visits Colburn (R-OK) succeeded in his sonal or academic status. The public funding to states and locali- to the local district offices of key long-standing effort to bureaucratic scientific ties for schools, roads and local congressional legislators during the defund Political Science systems of our nearest transit, health care, rural develop- spring and summer. This initiative at the National Science national competitors do ment projects, services for people (the “BSSR Champions Initiative”) Foundation (NSF). H.R. not have this advantage. with disabilities and veterans, and (Behavioral and Social Science 933 funds the federal gov- Scientific peer review other basic societal functions? Research) strives to foster relation- ernment for the rest of FY 2013, but is a tested process that has Census Bureau evidence as well as ship between local social scientists, with the inclusion of an amendment spurred our nation’s innovation evidence from the social science national scientific organizations, introduced by Colburn, eliminates infrastructure for the last 60 research community has repeatedly members of Congress, and their virtually all NSF funding for research years, and it is the standard to shown that making the ACS volun- staff. We will also try to identify in Political Science Division. which other countries aspire tary will undermine the reliability of local business and industry leaders The attack on the social sciences for how to evaluate requests for the data, but these concerns appear who understand and support the continues with House Science public and private support of to fall on deaf ears in Congress. importance of social science to join Committee Chair Lamar Smith’s scientific inquiry. It is especially us in these visits. Already sociolo- Why? proposed bill that would reau- critical to funding basic science gists have met with Chairman Lamar thorize the America COMPETES where the new knowledge and Why are the social sciences Smith and Representative Larry Act, but would also prevent NSF societal benefits resulting from under political attack? Is it because Bucshon (R-IN), and are scheduled from funding any social science the investments cannot be we aren’t viewed as part of “real” to meet with Representative Frank research. Smith stated in a meeting assured in advance.” science? Or is it because legislators Wolf (R-VA) on May 22. view us as academic liberal elites? Is with pro-business lobbyists and Another reason for concern is Our hope is that stronger it because we social scientists have others that the country needs “good recent remarks made by Majority relationships will provide more not been effective at communicat- science,” and Leader Eric engagement by social scientists with ing the value of the contributions he highlighted Cantor their own congressional representa- our research makes? Or because the physical Legislators don’t recognize the (R-VA). tives and improve political leaders’ legislators don’t like our research sciences and positive consequences when they Cantor stated understanding of the value of our results? Probably all of these. But engineering, that medi- work to their’s. rely on our research in their policy it is also because legislators haven’t which, under cal research If you are interested in partici- makng partly because we and experienced sufficient negative his proposed should be a pating in these meetings, contact others do not remind them. consequences when they oppose plan, would priority but Bradley Smith, ASA Director of social science funding! We need receive the social science Public Affairs, at [email protected]. louder voices. Legislators don’t money saved research Even if you aren’t interested in recognize the positive consequences by cutting funded by the face-to-face engagement, consider when they rely on our research in social science research. In April, National Institutes of Health (NIH) calling your representatives at their their policy making partly because Smith circulated a draft bill, the should not be supported. Evidently, local offices, sending them letters we and others do not remind them. “High Quality Research Act,” that Cantor supports funding research or attending a town hall meeting. Social scientists are certainly not would require the NSF director to that could provide cures for heart We know from colleagues in the large campaign contributors and certify that all grants being funded disease, diabetes, etc., but not federal government that legislators our disciplines don’t bring in the be “ground breaking,” “not duplica- research that could prevent people do listen to what they hear from their big research bucks to university tive,” and important to our national from developing these diseases or constituents, especially when such systems (although among the social interest. In addition, on April 25, ensure they effectively use the treat- communications remind them of the sciences, sociology brings in the Smith sent a letter to NSF Acting ments that are available. local consequences of failure to fund most!). And we haven’t convinced Director Cora Marrett asking for In addition to these funding research, collect meaningful ACS industry or business leaders to the peer review notes for four social and peer review issues, bills have data, or otherwise support science champion our cause with legislators science grants that he does not like, been introduced in both the House and science education. Tips on how even when they acknowledge the putting still more political pressures and Senate to remove the manda- to communicate with your legislators value of our work. We are often not on the peer review system. In a May tory status of the Census Bureau’s can be found on the ASA webpage at vocal constituents. 6 letter to Smith, ASA asked him to American Community Survey
2 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association
science policy
Promoting Science in Public beyond producing quality research, and Economic Research Addresses Census Bureau: Three Decades of Policy beyond translating results National Challenges,” the brochure Decennial Data Available in API The Division of into more understand- provides examples of the ways in Three decades of statistics about Behavioral and Social able terms, and beyond which NSF-funded, basic, social America’s people, places, and Sciences and Education brokering the results and behavioral science research economy are now available for use on (DBASSE) recently through intermediar- contributes to national security and the U.S. Census Bureau’s application released a report, Using ies, such as think tanks, economic interests. The compilation programming interface (API), which Science as Evidence in lobbyists, and advocacy of studies describes cutting-edge makes the information available for Public Policy, which encourages groups. For more information and research from improving evacua- web and mobile devices, such as scientists to think differently about to download the report, visit
Summary of ASA Editorial Activity (January 1-December 31, 2012) For the full 2012 Editors’ Reports, including decision data and review times, visit
ASR Contexts CS1 JHSB Rose2 SPQ SM ST SOE TS A. Manuscripts Considered (Total) 905 118 1,342 351 6 171 56 169 226 173 Submitted in 2012 764 101 1,342 317 6 160 34 118 179 113 Carried over 141 17 0 34 0 11 22 51 47 60 B. Review Process 1. Screened by editor/accepted for review 841 118 585 242 6 153 56 152 216 151 a. Rejected outright 442 45 12 108 3 71 22 70 137 38 b. Rejected—revise/resubmit 172 32 * 42 2 32 12 32 8 45 c. Conditional acceptance 44 24 * 30 1 15 8 5 0 24 d. Outright acceptance 42 8 105 29 0 15 11 14 15 33 e. Withdrawn 5 4 * 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 f. Pending 136 5 79 33 0 20 3 31 55 10 2. Screened by editor/rejected 64 0 666 109 0 18 0 17 10 22 C. Revise and Resubmits Outstanding 86 12 * 30 1 20 2 12 9 34 D. Editorial Lag (weeks) 12.3 * 14 5.93 4 10.6 10.4 9 11.62 14 E. Production Lag (months) 5 * 4 4.2 * 4.7 1.86 5.5 5 6 E. Items Published (Total) 45 98 439 35 0 17 18 16 20 60 Articles 40 20 0 31 0 15 10 15 20 17 Book reviews 0 8 362 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 Symposium reviews 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Review essays 0 0 64 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Comments 4 3 7 0 0 0 8 0 0 3 Other 1 37 6 4 0 2 0 1 0 24 F. Acceptance Rates Traditional 5.50% 7.34% * 9.12% * 9.93% 20.75% 10.14% 8.82% 20.37% Revised (Final Decisions Only) 7.59% 14.04% * 11.79% * 14.42% 33.33% 13.86% 9.20% 35.11% Revised minus prejects 8.59% 14.04% * 21.17% * 17.44% 33.33% 16.67% 9.80% 45.83% G. Reviewers Men 874 56 * 112 * 143 69 112 * 135 Women 597 66 * 164 * 110 37 39 * 200 Minorities * 21 * 48 * * * * * * H. Editorial Board Members Men 38 15 21 23 12 17 10 12 31 10 Women 31 15 17 24 23 16 8 6 28 22 Minorities 24 12 13 11 4 2 * 6 23 4 1Figures for Contemporary Sociology refer to books received and book reviews. 2”Other” items published are books in the Rose Series. *Information not applicable, not known, or not supplied by the editor. footnotes • May/June 2013 3 American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org
New Department Affiliates Benefit Professional Development Webinars for Sociology Faculty
Margaret Weigers Vitullo, ASA Academic and Professional Affairs Program Month Webinar Title Webinar Leaders epartment chairs are frequently Dfinding themselves looking for ways to reconcile the need to sup- November Using Assessment Data to Improve Student Rebecca Adams, University of North port faculty and student develop- 2012 Learning Carolina-Greensboro ment with the reality of extremely Augusto Diana, National Institute on Drug limited department budgets. Over December Applying for a Non-Academic Job with a PhD Abuse, and Rachel Ivy, American Physical the past couple of months, the ASA 2012 in Sociology Academic and Professional Affairs Society Program has been pilot testing a Astrid Eich-Krohm, Southern Connecticut free monthly webinar series for January 2013 Turning Your Dissertation Into a Book State, and University and Gayle Sulik, ASA Department Affiliates that is University at Albany designed to respond to both sides of this equation. February Teaching Statistics in the 21st Century: Salvatore Babones, University of Sydney Webinar topics fall into three 2013 Regression for Undergraduates broad categories: professional development, teaching, and depart- ment management and leadership. March 2013 Conflict Management for Department Chairs Tracy Ore, St. Cloud State University Announcements and registration information for the monthly webi- Connecting the Sociology Major to Daina Eglitis, George Washington University, nars are only sent to Department April 2013 Employment for Undergraduates: What Every Mary Senter, Central Michigan University, Affiliates, with a request that the Faculty Member Can Do and Roberta Spalter-Roth, ASA announcements be forwarded to all department faculty. Morton Ender, U.S. Military Academy, and Forthcoming Teaching Theory Outside the Box: Bringing Response to the 2012-2013 Cynthia Siemsen, California State University- May 2013 New Life to a Required Course Webinar Series thus far has been Chico strong and positive. In total, nearly 900 people have registered for Forthcoming Alternative Tools for Qualitative Analysis: A Ricardo Contreras, ATLAS-ti, Paul Dupuis, webinars and post-webinar evalua- June 2013 Side By Side Comparison HyperRESEARCH, and Eli Lieber, Dedoose. tions have been encouraging. One participant wrote “[the webinar] was well-prepared and offered a lot of useful information and that it should provide a meaningful discount on ASA member subscrip- ASA Research Department Briefs, resources. I also appreciate that the connection between every depart- tions to TRAILS (the Teaching and other new publications from presenter invited follow-up emails. ment of sociology in the country Resources and Innovations Library the ASA. I may well take advantage of her and the American Sociological for Sociology) and a 50 percent Starting on May 16, 2013, it will generosity.” Other comments have Association. It is hoped that the discount on non-member subscrip- be possible for departments to join included, “I’ve liked how smoothly new webinar series will help more tions to TRAILS. Early in the fall the Department Affiliates Program the few ASA webinars I’ve par- departments recognize the value semester Department Affiliates for 2013-2014 year and gain access ticipated in so far have run.” And, of joining the program and bring also receive a renewal packet that to these benefits, including the last “Very helpful webinar! Thank you that vision closer to reality. In includes bundles of free copies of webinars in the 2012-2013 series. so much!” addition to free priority access to the popular booklet “21st Century To make your department as a the webinar series, Department Careers with an Undergraduate Department Affiliate, or to learn The 2013-2014 Academic and Affiliates also receive a subscription Degree in Sociology,” the equally more about the program, go to Professional Affairs Webinar to Footnotes for their department; popular brochure “Sociology: A 21st
4 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association
international perspectives Sociology in Australia: A Disciple Finding Its Way in the World
Salvatore Babones, University of Sydney Having spent two years as an been born an Honours Coordinator myself, I am Australian. ociology is a relatively young not so sure. On the other discipline in Australia. The first S hand, for those department of sociology was started A PhD “Program” who make it, at the University of New South Most people agree that it is conditions Wales in 1959. The Sociological wonderful for undergraduates to are excellent. Association of Australia and New gain hands-on research experience, There is no Zealand (SAANZ) was founded in but Australian undergraduates do high-stakes 1963, with the respective national so in a high-stakes, sink-or-swim tenure system. associations separating in 1988. My environment that determines their Permanent staff own department at the University future eligibility for PhD study and are permanent of Sydney—now the largest in the government funding. Since they from the begin- country—only became independent Main Quadrangle at the University of Sydney know no statistics, their projects are ning, and if of social work in 1999. inevitably qualitative. Since they’ve you are denied Though it may be young, perhaps top senior scholars, many of whom typically had no formal qualitative promotion this year you can simply because it is young, sociology has emigrate. training other than a large-format reapply next year. Sociologists who grown rapidly in Australia in recent Many of the top scholars are lecture course, their qualitative are actively publishing can expect a years. My year-long Introduction to attracted back to Australia— research is often of poor quality. sabbatical in every seventh semester Sociology course at the University sometimes after “retiring” from The Honours thesis is the prov- (six on, one off) followed by “long- of Sydney enrolls more than 1,000 their overseas universities—by ing ground for PhD admissions. A service leave” of an additional students. Perhaps also because of generous research-only fellowships. first-class Honours mark admits a semester every 10 years. Australian its youth, sociology in Australia The result is that many of the best- student to PhD study. A high first Research Council grants are slightly is poorly institutionalized. There known academics in Australia are class earns the student a govern- more generous and slightly easier to is no model curriculum. Classical exempted from classroom teaching ment scholarship. Once admitted get than NSF grants. sociological theory and quantitative to a doctoral “program,” students and leadership service. In effect, methodologies are rarely encoun- are expected to start their theses Greater Equality and Support their research output has been tered. Entire subfields are simply immediately. That is to say, there is The intellectual atmosphere “bought” by the university through missing from the curriculum. no program. Students arrive, meet in Australia is extraordinarily a no-work salary. This illustrates Moreover, the structure of the with their supervisors, and off they vibrant. At the top research-focused just how difficult it is to run a highly BA degree in Australia makes it go. No coursework, no training, institutions, university-sponsored equitable system in one small coun- difficult to flesh out the sociology no in-depth discussions of the intercontinental travel is common- try when the rest of the world has major. Students take only eight contemporary relevance of classical place. Australians are active in the moved to a winner-take-all system. courses for the major (over three theory, no comprehensive exams, British Sociological Association, Nonetheless, it is an absolute years). Students who wish to go and definitely no statistics. the International Sociological pleasure to work in a (relatively) on to further study can complete Not surprisingly, Australian- Association, and (to a lesser equitable system. Although every a fourth “Honours” year. The trained PhDs tend to have relatively extent) the American Sociological family has its fights, the fact that Honours year is a holdover British meager skill sets compared to their Association. Australians draw on money and jobs are usually not at institution, not quite a master’s but U.S. counterparts. In principle this theories and facts from all over the stake removes much of the vicious- more highly regarded because it is deficit is made up during three-year world without preference for any ness from intra-departmental more competitive than a master’s. In post-doctoral fellowships. In fact, one region or country. Australian squabbles. Australian sociology is the Honours year students take two there are far more graduates than sociology is the most cosmopolitan much less obviously political, and more courses and then complete an there are post-docs available. sociology imaginable. much more obviously intellectual, 18,000-word thesis, usually based My Australian colleagues all Best of all, the entire university than its American counterpart. on original research. seem to be well-trained, highly sector in Australia is unionized— Australian sociology is healthy The result is that an Australian accomplished sociologists. But as a at least for now. This means that and growing. The discipline faces sociology graduate with a BA sociologist, I worry that in observ- wage inequality is much lower in some problems with student train- (Hons) has completed roughly the ing them I am selecting them as Australia than in the United States. ing, but these are generated by the same amount of coursework as a the dependent variable. I wonder Relatively high starting salaries national university system; the disci- U.S. sociology major, but has also what happened to all the Honours combined with relative security of pline itself has little control over the undertaken a quite serious research students who didn’t swim in the employment make it possible for structure of degrees. For a discipline and writing exercise. The ques- sink-or-swim meataphor and all junior academics to live reason- that is only 50 years old and serving tion is whether or not Australian the PhDs who didn’t get post-docs. ably comfortable lives. Of course, a country of 23 million people, undergraduates are truly prepared My fear is that much human talent another implication of low inequal- Australian sociology is incredibly to engage in original research at and potential is lost to the discipline ity is that salaries for academic robust. In this Pacific century, look such an early stage in their careers. every year through aggressive win- “stars” are comparatively low in for Australia to be a leading node in Most Australian academics fiercely nowing out. I fear that I would not Australia. This can make it difficult the global disciplinary network. In maintain that the answer is “yes.” have ended up a sociologist had I for Australian universities to retain many respects it already is.
footnotes • May/June 2013 5 American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org
AAAS Human Resources track, titled these dualisms, from Page 1 “Overcoming Dualisms and minority schol- Promoting Minority Inclusion in ars appear to see the January 2013 issue of Science Networks and Pipelines.” need two types Footnotes
6 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association Building a STEM – Literate Society Calls for Sociologists’ Expertise
Debbie Storrs and John Mihelich, Fortunately sociologists excel at The Study and Implications year, we will convene a statewide University of Idaho this type of problem solving with With a $1.2 million dollar gift STEM education conference, bring- he changing global and local their understanding of the multiple from the Micron Foundation, soci- ing together multiple stakeholders Teconomies and other complex and intersecting institutions, social ologists at the University of Idaho from industry, K-12 and higher problems the world faces demand positionings, forms of capital, and are leading a five-year (currently education, nonprofits, and the faith an increasingly STEM literate other social factors that impact in the third year) interdisciplinary community, to share our find- citizenry to make informed deci- student decisions and STEM research project to explore statewide ings and encourage innovations sions. Much has been made of educational outcomes. Finally, and community level factors that across the state that are data driven the waning U.S. student interest sociologists can and should engage contribute to these educational sta- and informed by a sociological and performance in the fields of in the public policy arena, commu- tistics, with the goal of shaping pol- perspective. science, technology, engineering, nicating with legislators and other icy and practice toward improved Such multifaceted research proj- and mathematics (STEM). Recent external stakeholders on potential K-12 STEM educational outcomes. ects and applied innovations assist statistics demonstrate the magni- policy responses to research find- Thus far, we have collected quantita- in establishing sociology as a vital tude of this problem on the STEM ings. A group of sociologists is tive and qualitative data from 12 STEM discipline to be supported educational front: doing exactly that in Idaho. counties across the state of Idaho. and cultivated. By extension, we hope to further the practice of • Thirty-five percent of the nation’s The State of STEM Education in Focus groups were conducted in incorporating sociologists into eighth graders perform at or Idaho each of these counties with teachers, parents and community members; interdisciplinary research projects above proficient in mathematics Sociologists in Idaho have much and surveys were administered to aimed at addressing complex (2011 NAEP). to be alarmed about in terms of teachers, community members, and problems ranging from cyber- • Thirty-two percent of the STEM education. Barely a third students matched with their parents security to global climate change. nation’s eighth graders perform of Idaho’s eighth graders perform in grades 4, 7, and 10. In addition We should embrace this opportu- at or above proficient in science at or above proficient in math to contributing to the sociologi- nity to contribute to finding solu- (2011 NAEP). and science. While this is on par cal understanding of educational tions to our global problems. After • Less than half (45%) of high with the national average, it’s an challenges, our analyses will inform all, as ASA executive officer Sally school graduates in 2011 were abysmal figure that both Idaho and shape place-based innovations Hillsman “reminds us,” sociology prepared for college math and and the nation must improve. designed to leverage community is a STEM discipline. less than a third (30%) were pre- While Idaho students graduate strengths and opportunities. This pared for college science (www. from high school at a higher rate For more information on the University summer we have funded three such of Idaho-Micron STEM Education act.org/research/policymakers/ than the national average, they are innovations in different communi- Research Initiative, see www.uidaho.edu/ cccr11/readiness1.html). less likely to attend college (49% ties, informed by our analysis. Next research/stem/micronstemed. The alarm has been sounded and of high school graduates went states have responded by forming to a two- or four-year college in STEM networks, developing STEM 2008 compared with 63% of high education roadmaps, adopting school graduates in the nation) Call for Nominations for Common Core State Standards, and of those who do attend, the and sponsoring various other ini- retention of first-year students ASA Offices tiatives (see Change the Equation’s at four-year institutions is lower Vital Sign which documents STEM than the national average (67% The ASA Committee on Nominations, elected by the educational actions and outcomes vs. 78%). Additionally, they take membership, prepares the slates of nominees for the by state at vitalsigns.changethe- longer to graduate compared with ASA offices. The Committee will undertake its work at equation.org/). other high school students in the 2013 Annual Meeting (August 10-13) in New York. Sociologists Bring Unique our region (National Center for Perspectives Higher Education Management Members are encouraged to submit nominations of candidates they think would lead the Association Sociologists bring methodologi- Systems Information Center for cal expertise and an ability to craft Higher Education Policymaking effectively. In making a nomination, submit a one- research designs to explore both and Analysis). A recent educa- page narrative supporting your nomination. Officers why students are underperform- tion Quality Counts report ranked must be full members of the Association (not associ- Idaho third to last overall in K-12 ing in STEM fields at the K-12 ate members) at the time they run for office. level and why so few are choos- educational performance and ing to pursue STEM fields in policy. Adding to these challenges, Idaho families must devote a larger The Committee on Nominations makes every higher education. Perhaps equally effort to tap into the vitality of the organization important, sociologists also bring share of family income for students their disciplinary knowledge to to attend four-year colleges and that flows from the diversity of our membership. the issue. Despite a general “blame universities as the amount of state- Send nominations via email to governance@asa- the victim” sentiment that places funded aid in Idaho is lower than net.org or by postal mail to American Sociological responsibility for poor STEM edu- it is in other states in the region Association, ATTN: Governance Office, 1430 K St. cational outcomes solely on teach- (National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, “Measuring NW, Washington, DC 20005. All submissions must be ers and schools the reality and received no later than August 1, 2013. solutions are much more complex. up 2008: The National Report Card on Higher Education.)
footnotes • May/June 2013 7 American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org ASA Awards Seven Grants for the Advancement of Sociology Member donations are needed to continue advancing the discipline
ment. The study examines three he American Sociological Association (ASA) announced seven awards from the June 2012 round of the Fund general areas: a 10-year analysis Tfor the Advancement of the Discipline (FAD). This program, co-funded by ASA and the National Science of trends regarding the purpose Foundation (NSF) and administered by the ASA, provides seed money (up to $7,000) to PhD scholars for of the policies (receptive vs. innovative research projects and scientific conferences that advance the discipline through theoretical and meth- exclusionary); an analysis of odological breakthroughs. Funding decisions are made by an advisory panel composed of members of ASA’s local newspapers’ framing of Council and the Director of Research and Development. policymaking, and an analysis Without member donations, we cannot maintain FAD at its current funding level. Therefore, we are asking of whether these boundaries get ASA members to provide the donations needed to allow us to continue to fund six or seven proposals per cycle translated into social boundar- (December 15 and June 15). FAD has funded a wide variety of projects—quantitative and qualitative, domestic ies between immigrants and and international, micro and macro. Individuals can send contributions to FAD, c/o Business Office, American non-immigrants. By focusing Sociological Association, 1430 K St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005. on different levels of policymak- Below is a list of the latest FAD Principal Investigators (PIs) and a brief description of their projects. ing, the author goes beyond established gateways and global cities. Mikhail Balaev, University of transformed, and utilized in a on LGBT rights. The project Chunping Han, University North Carolina at Greensboro, different context—the American will compare responses in Côte of Texas-Arlington, $6,997 for $7,000 for Who Rules America corporate workplace. Specifically, d’Ivoire (a benign political Psychological Well-Being in Revisited. it will examine how corporations climate) and Liberia (a hos- Reform-Era China. This research focuses on the use Asian religious practices, tile political climate) by pro- This project is a sociological power elite in the 21st century such as meditation, mindfulness, and anti-LGBT activists (via study of psychological well-being and proposes to document, and and yoga, to attempt to improve interviews) with responses by in reform-era China. According analyze the corporate backround the productivity of their employ- politicians and political leaders to the author, the sociological and network ties of senior gov- ees. According to the PI, corpo- (presented in local newspapers). research on subjective well-being ernment employees before and rations tailor Asian religions for In addition, the study asks how is far less extensive and system- after they hold their government a secular audience. It also exam- different groups, such as LGBT atic than what has been done by appointment. The PI will examine ines how these religious practices activists, anti-LGBT activists, psychologists and economists. the affiliations of the senior in the workplace extend into religious authorities, and politi- Psychological well-being reflects executive government officials employees personal lives. Data cal officials and parties, have the extent to which individuals (SEGOs), defined as presidential will be collected through 150 responded to the policy. Finally, feel their life is thriving or with- appointees from 2004 to 2012. in-depth interviews with profes- the PI hopes to gain an under- ering, indicates “the quality of SEGOs’ employment and board sionals, managers, and spiritual standing of how gender and the social system in which they memberships prior to and after practitioners, observations of sexual diversity politics intersect live,” and serves as a predictor of their executive political offices corporate wellness programs, with human rights norms. many life outcomes such as lon- will be coded in a set of variables and content analysis of corporate gevity, health, income, and social including the type, sector, and literature. In short, this project Kim Ebert, North Carolina State skills. Specifically, the PI intends industry of the organizations. offers an analysis of the relation- University, $6,993 for The Role of to explore the definition, descrip- This data collection includes iden- ship between work, self, and Policy, Media, and Local Context tion, and the explanation of tifying and coding documents spirituality in a postindustrial in Shaping Symbolic Boundaries social and psychological sources from a variety of sources such as economy. This project advances between Foreign- and Native-Born of life satisfaction and psycho- Financial Disclosures and Ethics sociological theory on the notion Groups. logical distress in transitional Agreements letters. According to that work influences religion According to the PI, the China. The author suggests that the proposal, the most important rather than, as Weber would government plays a central the results (based on in-depth aspect is that there was no previ- have it, that religion influences role in defining the boundar- interviews) will also shed light ous analysis of the connection work. ies between immigrants and on policies and practices con- between corporations and the non-immigrants. These defini- ducive to subjective well-being executive government through Ashley Currier, University of tions have implications for the during large-scale, dramatic SEGO’s. The project will use the Cincinatti, $7,000 for Diffusing maintenance of racial and social and economic shifts that collected information to develop LGBT Rights: U.S. Foreign Policy ethnic inequality. The author have occurred in China, and a new database on the inter- and LGBT Organizing in Côte contends that in many cases, ultimately can be used to com- locking directorate ties for U.S. d’Ivoire. boundaries between native and pare “transitional societies” with presidential appointees. This pilot project will inves- foreign-born groups stem- tigate whether and how U.S. ming from immigration policy “developed societies.” Carolyn Chen, Northwestern foreign policy on LGBT rights only become meaningful when John W. Mohr, University of University, $7,000 for Zen and has affected gender and sexual they are disseminated to the California-Santa Barbara, $2,000 the Art of Modern Corporate diversity organizing in Côte public by means of the media. for Measuring Culture. Productivity: Asian Religions and d’Ivoire and Liberia. Specifically, Specifically, the research will The grant is intended for a Instrumental Spirituality. this project asks how interested investigate the relationship conference, titled “Measuring This study focuses on how reli- groups in two African nations among immigration policymak- gious practices are secularized, respond to a positive U.S. stance ing at different levels of govern- Continued on page 9
8 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association 2013 Howery Teaching Enhancement Fund Winners
of training Blouin and Moss will Program, to identity Peer Learning he Carla B Howery Teaching Enhancement Fund is a small grants then conduct qualitative interviews Assistants who represent the Tprogram of the American Sociological Association. It supports projects with sociology graduate students to populations in her course as well that advance the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) within the investigate the differences among those who initially struggled in her discipline of sociology. The Carnegie Foundation defines SoTL as “prob- the various types of teacher train- Introduction course but ultimately lem posing about an issue of teaching or learning, study of the problem ings discovered in the first part of succeeded. through methods appropriate to the disciplinary epistemologies, applica- their study. With only 50 percent of tions of results to practice, communication of results, self-reflection, graduate programs offering formal Ashley Rondini, Transylvania and peer review” (Cambridge 2001). The 2013 selection committee has teacher training, their findings can University for Health, Illness, and awarded $2,000 grants to four projects. With the help of this fund, the have important implications for the Community-Assessing Critical recipients can begin meaningful work that will help advance sociological discipline, higher education, and Consciousness and Learning pedagogy. more specifically graduate teacher Outcomes in a Multi-Site, training. Thematically Organized Service Learning Course The ASA would like to congratu- project is important both because Tracy Ore, St. Cloud State Rondini will use her funds to late the following recipients: Introduction to Sociology is the University for The Use of Peer assess student learning outcomes Stephanie Medley-Rath, Lake sociology course most frequently Learning Assistants in the Large of her service-learning course, Land College for Reducing the taken by college students, and Introductory Sociology Classroom to “Health, Illness and Community.” Financial Burden of College: Are because a significant portion, if not Support Student Learning She will evaluate the experiences Open Education Resources a Viable the majority, of those students are In an effort to keep up with of a multi-site, integrated learning Option? enrolled at a community college changes in resources and demo- approach. Additionally, she will be Medley-Rath will conduct where a large majority of students graphics at her university, Ore using qualitative interviews with research on alternative options receive financial aid. will incorporate undergradu- her students to assess the develop- to the textbook rental system ate Peer Learning Assistants in ment of “critical consciousness” in currently in use at her institution. David Blouin, Indiana University- her 200-student Introductory relation to the conceptual frame Her quasi-experimental design South Bend, and Allison Moss, to Sociology course. The project of health as a social justice issue. will seek to discover whether University of Illinois at Chicago seeks to facilitate teaching and Service learning pedagogy encour- using Open Education Resources for Formal and Informal Teacher learning activities and assistance ages students to ask questions about (OER) results in comparable Training in U.S. and Canadian not available directly from the the connections between social learning outcomes among students Sociology Graduate Departments, instructor. Ore will identify with structures and societal problems. while keeping costs reason- Revisited 20 Years Later the student’s personal and profes- Her course, in particular, will help ably low. In the fall semester at Blouin and Moss will conduct sional goals and help them see students cultivate their sociological Lake Land Community College, a mixed-methods investigation of how sociological knowledge can be imagination and use it to examine Open Education Resources will graduate teacher training. They will applied to their future work. Her topics regarded to health and health be employed in two sections of first determine the extent to which project will attempt to overcome care and their multi-dimensional Introduction to Sociology and departments employ students as the barriers to learning many of aspects and sociological signifi- traditional textbooks will be used teachers, whether departments offer her students face.. She will use her cance. in the other two (one online and graduate student training or prepa- university’s resources, such as the For more information about the Carla B. the other web-facilitated). The ration, and, if so, what that training Multicultural Student Services Howery Teaching Enhancement Fund, looks like. To understand the effect and the First Year and Transitions visit
Advancement this view, the PI states that forging The purpose of this proposal is combine rural marginalization from Page 8 common understanding through a to compare welfare-to-work service and critical race theory on welfare small-conference format will move delivery in rural counties in two stigma to understand how both Culture,” which will bring together the sociology of culture forward states, with very different rural race and location interact to play a quantitative and qualitative schol- and help establish a coherent populations (North Carolina’s wel- role in the potential effectiveness of ars to sit down together and discuss sub-field of scientific sociology. fare population is predominantly Welfare-to-Work programs. the problem of measuring culture The proceedings of the conference, black, while Ohio’s is predomi- The next deadline FAD Round in the discipline of sociology. The should result in a special issue of nantly white). The study allows an is June 15, 2013. We encour- goal of the meeting will be to forge Theory and Society or an edited examination of race, place, and ser- age ASA members to submit. a new set of common under- volume. vice in which rural poverty is par- Potential applicants can reach standings and basic orientations ticularly understudied. The focus the program director, Roberta toward measurement practices and Tiffany Taylor, North Carolina will be on the challenges faced by Spalter-Roth, at spalter-roth@ theories as they relate to cultural State University, $5,760 for Race agencies and organizations in both asanet.org, the co-director Nicole analysis. Citing findings from other and Place: A Comparative Case states and the place of race in how Van Vooren can be reached at fields, the PI argues that small Study of Welfare-to-Work Service government employees implement [email protected]. For more conferences are indispensible for Delivery in North Carolina and TANF (Temporary Assistance for information, visit
footnotes • May/June 2013 9 American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org
Brooklyn communities (see photo, Bliss River drew the interest from Page 1 Bakery, Bedford Avenue). of real estate developers and the city planning Artists and Young People across the water to Staten Island commission, which and the suburbs of New Jersey. The While Galapagos Art Space on rezoned the waterfront th borough had always taken second North 6 Street hosted perfor- for high-rise, residen- place to Manhattan as the center mances by mixed-media artists, a tial development. of metropolitan commerce and growing number of alt-rock bands Alongside both legal celebrity. And the defection of the played in other nearby bars. This and illegal conversions Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles in created a mutually-reinforcing repu- of “inland” factories 1957 symbolized a collective sense tation for DIYers (do it yourself) to living lofts, new of departure and loss. and alternative culture that brought apartment houses on visitors to the neighborhood and Early Hipster Invasion the waterfront soon audiences to the bands. made finding a home Since the 1980s, however, Two early artisanal start-ups, in Williamsburg th Brooklyn residents have awak- Brooklyn Brewery on North 11 a more expensive ened to a stunning reversal. Street (brooklynbrewery.com) and proposition (see photo, th New waterfront construction, 2009. Photo: Sharon Zukin. Neighborhoods like Brooklyn Brooklyn Industries on North 8 New Waterfront Heights and Park Slope, with their Street and Bedford Avenue. The Construction). Under number of waste facilities. Low- rich supply of distinctive brown- Brewery, founded in 1987 by two the onslaught of rising rents, most income cultural producers and stone townhouses, became highly Brooklynites, moved to a converted Hispanic and older Polish residents students compete for housing and desirable residential locations (see factory in Williamsburg in 1996. had already moved away. the city government’s support map on page 1). And neighbor- And Industries created a local, and After 2005, hipsters migrated out, against Hispanic and Hasidic Jewish hoods like Williamsburg and gradually a global, market for their many moving eastward along the L constituencies (see photo, Everyday small-scale subway line to East Williamsburg Diversity). production of and Bushwick. Other residents Longtime residents have strug- clothing and moved northward to Greenpoint, gled to make improvements. During messenger also a neighborhood where aging the 1980s and 1990s, Latinos on bags, together Polish residents owned homes. The the area’s Southside organized to making Galapagos Art Space, which faced a develop low-rent housing and Williamsburg rent increase of 30 percent, accepted opened a community school, El a “scene” and a deal from the development firm Puente Academy, near the access Brooklyn a which owns most of the proper- road to the Williamsburg Bridge. “ br an d .” ties in DUMBO (Down Under the Residents of the Northside created These syner- Manhattan Bridge Overpass), a a “197-a” community plan that gies became bit to the south, and moved from prioritized removing environmental more intense Williamsburg in 2007 (www.galapa- hazards, building affordable hous- Bliss Bakery, Bedford Avenue. Photo: Sharon Zukin. with the rapid gosartspace.com/). ing, and maintaining industrial jobs. growth of social Although the city council endorsed Bushwick, with dilapidated factories New vs. Old media. In the early 2000s, 11211 this plan in the early 2000s, its goals and warehouses, were transformed Magazine, The L Magazine, and This brief account makes gentrifi- were negated by the 2005 rezoning into artists’ districts. To everyone’s the blog
10 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association
emeritus profile William Knox: A Positive Force in Greensboro
y mentor invested a lot of attained his doctorate degree in Difference?,” at the 1986 American onward, he spearheaded computer “Mtime and energy in help- 1965. While Knox confessed that Educational Research Association use in teaching-and writing-intensive ing me. He helped me become a he felt “Filial Bonds: The Retired meeting placed the findings in the instruction. better writer and sociologist, but Father’s Relationship with His Adult public domain. A book with the Knox left a positive mark on most importantly, he helped me Children” was a clumsy title for his same paper title was published by many of his students. Brian Fogarty, become more confident.” This was dissertation, it offers a compelling Knox and Lindsay in 1994. Ernest a former graduate student and former student MaryBe contemporary critical Pascarella and Patrick Terenzini professor at St. Catherine’s College MacMillan’s description of analysis of our under- cited the research frequently in said, “He fueled my interest in social William Knox, longtime standing of aging people How College Affects Students, their psychology; but more importantly, professor of sociology at and their familial inter- prize-winning update of Theodore he gave me permission, in an age the University of North generational relations. Newcomb’s synthesis of the effects of of specialization, to think about Carolina-Greensboro. After earning his PhD, higher education. connections between sociology and Knox was born in Knox joined the faculty other areas of thought.” Teaching 1930 in New York City. at University of North Following his retirement in 1994, His father died in 1933. Carolina-Greensboro Teaching at Greensboro for more Knox has written many op-ed pieces William Knox Subsequently, during a (UNCG) in 1963, where than four decades, Knox chaired and participates in the American time when few women he specialized in social UNCG’s Sociology Department from Civil Liberties Union, environmen- pursued scientific careers, his mother psychology and the sociology of 1990-94. He enjoyed the challenge tal organizations, and fundraising attained a PhD in microbiology from education. It was Robin Williams, of administration and loved advising for UNCG. An avid photographer, Columbia, where she had a career as Jr., former ASA President (1958), students: “This has always been a he has exhibited in juried and a virologist and immunologist. who recommended Knox for a department serious about profes- museum shows. He currently works Knox explored pre-medical and teaching position at the school. sional activities, and it has always intermittently on a memoir. He and humanities studies at Princeton in been a good teaching department,” his wife, Diana, a special education Fields of Interest 1948-49, but he left near the end of said Knox. Painfully shy when teacher, have been happily married his freshman year. He began anew Knox took a leave of absence from he was younger, Knox eventually for 58 years. The result of their mar- at Colgate University where he UNCG to pursue a National Institute blossomed into a confident and riage was three children and seven received great support from a soci- of Mental Health grant to study gregarious teacher. From the 1970s grandchildren. ologist, Raymond Ries, who sug- the George Junior Republic (GJR) gested a career in academe. During in Freeville, NY. This was a private school for “troubled” 13–20 year olds his college years, when he struggled to the developer who owns most of of different race, gender, and class Brooklyn with direction, he found his passion DUMBO. Their plans now project backgrounds. Based on his findings, from previous page in the study of sociology and writ- tall buildings for both apartments he noticed ing. In 1955, zoning rules that mandates a fixed and “creative” offices, cutting-edge questionable Knox earned percentage of “affordable” apart- architecture—literally since the This has always been a depart- therapeutic a BA degree ments in new, multi-unit housing. design features a large cutout in the methods, many magna cum ment serious about professional But this system depends on the middle of the structure—and lots indications of laude from activities, and it has always been a developers’ voluntary acceptance, of green space for public access in a alienation, and Colgate. He good teaching department. and they exact concessions in waterfront park. an alarming recalled that return from the city government. Williamsburg is still a commu- number of stu- “sociology was Often concessions take the form of nity in both ferment and forma- dents running a life saver.” permission to build taller build- tion. Restaurants feature locavore away from campus. Knox concluded At Colgate, Knox was in the Air ings, with more rentable units, produce, artisanal production, and that the administration was neither Force ROTC. A photo-radar intelli- than zoning allows. Moreover, the “nose-to-tail” carnivorous cuisine addressing many of the problems of gence officer (1960-1963), his duties formula to calculate “affordable” prepared by exciting young chefs. its “citizens” nor preparing them for included making air target charts rents is based on median house- Summer brings open-air alt-rock participation in American society. for bombing practice and evaluating hold incomes in the metropolitan concerts in the waterfront park at GJR discontinued accepting girls U-2 flight paths. As a social scientist region, which are often higher North 12th in the early 1990s and is now The Street and walks along and a human being, Knox believed than those in the city and in the George Agency, a treatment center the waterfront esplanade. For now, that the “work went against his neighborhood. for young males. the vacant lot at the Domino Sugar conscience.” His secondary duty as The financial crisis that began in Knox and a UNCG colleague, refinery will be an urban farm. squadron historian, however, helped 2006 halted construction on many Paul Lindsay, received a Spencer And for those who want a more him hone his writing skills and sites. Yet by 2013, $2 and $3 million Foundation grant to study long-term “authentic” location…they can explain complex technical concepts sales of palatial penthouse lofts in effects of college on students. They follow the hipsters eastward to the to general audiences. For years Williamsburg were not uncom- followed the high school class of Morgan Avenue station of the L afterward this was to be useful in mon. For a price of $185 million, 1972 and in a longitudinal study that line in Bushwick, where art galler- teaching and with his writing. ownership of the former Domino continued through the early 1980s ies and organic food shops have Gordon Streib, a preeminent Sugar refinery on the Southside with up to 20,000 cases. Presenting taken root amid a majority Latino gerontologist, advised Knox at waterfront passed from a firm their paper, “Does College Make a and minority African American Cornell University where he specializing in “affordable” housing population. footnotes • May/June 2013 11 American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org
ASA in New York How the Theme Plays Out of it are for the future of our society. of growing inequality. Her distin- from Page 1 This was the thinking that moti- David Grusky will discuss the issues guished panelists include Susan vated me and the 2013 Program with regard to socioeconomic and Fiske of psychology, economist What does it take to answer these committee as we put together the class inequality, Paula England will Lawrence Katz, political scientist questions that we all care so much plenaries, presidential sessions, and address changing gender inequality, Barry Bartels, and sociology’s Erik about? I argue that we need to open thematic sessions for our Annual and Tomás Jiménez will look at the Olin Wright. In addition, we have up the traditional study of inequal- Meeting August 10–13 in New York. shifting terrain of racial inequal- Presidential Panels on “Immigration ity in three key ways. First, let’s not There will be three plenaries to set ity. The last speaker, Robert Mare, and the Changing Racial Terrain, assume that we really know what a broad frame on the problem of will ask whether there are common organized by Douglas Massey, one inequality is in the contemporary “Interrogating Inequality: Linking patterns of change across different on “Organizational Dynamics and United States. As social scientists, Micro and Macro.” The Opening types of inequalities and, if so, how Inequality,” organized by Emilio we need to more thoroughly inter- Plenary, which takes place on we should understand them. Castilla, another on “Cultural rogate the nature of contemporary Meanings of Gender and Inequality,” Friday, will focus on “Inequality and Presidential Panels and inequality in order to take into put together by Shelley Correll: Contemporary Protest.” The idea Thematics account its full, multidimensional is to begin our collective conver- and lastly, “Changing Beliefs about I am really looking forward to complexity. That is, we need to sation with analyses of dramatic Inequality, Opportunity, and these plenaries myself and I hope incorporate group difference-based examples of the social tensions Mobility,” organized by Sandra you are too. But that is not all we inequality, such as race, gender, surrounding current inequality Smith. I think you can see that have planned. There also are six and sexuality along with class and such as the Occupy and Tea Party these sessions were all motivated Presidential Panels and a wide socioeconomic inequality. We movements. Barbara Ehrenreich, by our goals of looking at multidi- range of Thematic Sessions that need to incorporate sociopoliti- a close observer of inequality and mensional inequality, taking into delve more deeply and specifically cal processes such as incarceration collective action, will join distin- account cultural as well as structural into the issues I outline above. A and understand their connections guished political sociologist Theda mechanisms, and looking across Presidential Panel I organized is to other forms of inequality. And Skocpol, author of a recent book on levels of analysis to find mechanism “Interrogating Inequality: Structural above all, we need to ask, how do the Tea Party, in a panel facilitated of inequality. and Cultural Dimensions.” I invited these different types of as well as by prominent social movements There also are many enticing four prominent scholars who will ways of, making inequality inter- scholar Douglas McAdam. Thematic Sessions on a range of draw upon their own research to penetrate and affect one another to The second plenary, “Micro topics like crime and incarcera- examine how material, structural, shape the organization of society Processes as Mechanisms of tion, status and exchange processes, and cultural factors work together, and life chances within it? Second, Inequality,” is designed to highlight statistical models for studying and sometimes against one another, in order to understand the multiple the importance of incorporating inequality, racial disparities in in the making and unmaking of processes by which inequality is processes at the individual and health, the micro politics of domi- inequality. I asked these scholars to actually made on an everyday basis interpersonal levels into our under- nation, changing work structures, discuss substantive considerations we need to look at the mutual effects standings of how inflexible patterns changing families and households, of these issues in the context of of cultural and structural processes of inequality are actually made. sex and sexuality, “who are the one actual research than in abstract rather than just focusing on one or Each of the speakers will look for percent?,” legal rights and inequal- “culture vs. structure” theoretical the other. key levers of inequality that occur ity, and so on. I want to point out debates. I’m pleased to say that Ann Finally, we need to look across at the micro level. Lawrence Bobo two highlights. Bernice Pescosolido Swidler, Mario Small, Min Zhao, levels of analysis from the individual will discuss the production of racial has put together a provocative and Paul DiMaggio will share their and interpersonal to the organiza- inequality, Shelley Correll will take and timely session on “When insights into what it takes to under- tional to the macro-structural and on micro mechanisms in gender Sociological Research Matters: stand and change durable inequali- cultural in order to discover the ways inequality, and Annette Lareau Sandy Hook, Aurora, Virginia ties like class, race, and gender, both that inequitable processes at each will discuss class-based inequality. Tech, and the Sociological Voice structural and cultural aspects. of these levels interpenetrate one Then, Jane McLeod will look across in Understanding and Preventing Another Presidential Panel, another to create and sustain patterns the micro processes that operate in Mass Shootings.” And we also have organized by Program Committee of resource inequality. In my view, the these diverse forms of inequality a session reflecting on Wilson’s The member Devah Pager, is “Grappling most important and powerful mecha- to give us a general analysis of the Truly Disadvantaged, 25 years later. with Inequality: What Economics, nisms, the ones that have the most nature and significance of micro I hope you will come to New York Psychology, Political Science, and obdurate power to sustain broad pat- processes in the organization of and participate in our broad-rang- Sociology Have to Say about Rising terns of inequality, often emerge from society on unequal terms. ing conversation about contempo- Inequality in the U.S.” It addresses the systematic interaction of diverse The final plenary, “How Is rary inequality—how to understand the serious need for multi-level per- processes at multiple levels. If we Inequality in the U.S. Changing?,” it and what to do about it. spectives to understand the problem constrain our analyses to processes at will take on the task of understand- one level of inequality at a time, these ing exactly how broad patterns of multi-level mechanisms will continu- inequality based on class, gender, ally elude our grasp. Instead, our goal and race are changing right now Twitter at the Annual Meeting should be to locate the key junctures and discerning what is driving these among these multi-level processes The American Sociological Association (@ASAnews) changes. In what way are these will be tweeting using the hashtag #asa13 about that provide the levers by which changes related to one another? different sorts of inequalities among activities and research presented at the 2013 ASA This session goes to the heart of Annual Meeting. Meeting attendees are encour people and groups are systematically our concerns to understand what made or unmade in the contempo- aged to tweet from the meeting as well to highlight noteworthy contemporary inequality really is presentations or to share and discuss ideas. rary context. right now and what the implications
12 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association Sociologist Honored for Research on Education and Immigrant Populations
n mid-February, Rubén Immigrant Second Generation (co- 1.5- and second-generation young both of University of Wisconsin- IG. Rumbaut, University of authored with Alejandro Portes), adults of Mexican, Salvadoran, Madison; Valerie Lee, University California-Irvine profes- which also received the Guatemalan, Filipino, Chinese, of Michigan; and Judith Warren sor of sociology, was Thomas and Znaniecki Korean, Vietnamese, and other Little, University of California- elected to the National Award from the ethnic origins, compared with Berkeley; Hugh Mehan, University Academy of Education International Migration third-generation peers. Numerous of California-San Diego; John (NAEd). He iss one of 12 Section. In addition, as follow-ups by Rumbaut and W. Meyer, Stanford University. new members admitted a National Academy of others have been based on this The NAEd emeritus sociologist in 2013 for outstand- Sciences panel mem- research. He’s currently conduct- members include Charles Bidwell, ing contributions in ber, he has contributed ing a longitudinal study of youth Robert Dreeben, Nathan Glazer, educational research and to two authoritative populations with roots in Ameca, and Maureen Hallinan. policy development. Rubén G. Rumbaut volumes on the U.S. Mexico, to see how they differ in Since its establishment in Rumbaut is inter- Hispanic population. educational status and transition 1965, the National Academy of nationally known and Since 1991, Rumbaut to adulthood. Education has undertaken research widely cited for his research on has co-led (with Alejandro studies that address pressing issues Sociologists Well Represented children and young adults raised Portes) the landmark Children in education and that typically in immigrant families of diverse of Immigrants Longitudinal In addition to Rumbaut, include both NAEd members and nationalities and socioeconomic Study, following subjects from other sociologists to be elected other scholars with an expertise classes. He has authored, co- dozens of nationalities in South to the NAEd, include: Gary S. in a particular area of inquiry. authored, or edited numerous Florida and Southern California Becker, Dan Lortie, and Stephen In addition, members are deeply publications on the topic, includ- as they become adults. From Raudenbush, all at University of engaged in NAEd’s professional ing 14 books—with two more 2002 to 2008, he co-directed the Chicago; Anthony S. Bryk, The development fellowship programs forthcoming. He was awarded the Immigration & Intergenerational Carnegie Foundation for the focused on the rigorous prepara- 2002 ASA Distinguished Book Mobility in Metropolitan Los Advancement of Teaching; Adam tion of the next generation of Award for Legacies: The Story of the Angeles study, which focused on Gamoran and Robert M. Hauser, scholars.
Sociologists and Same-Sex Marriage: Politics of Truth
he recent oral arguments before that there is a “clear and consistent the exception. The basis of the rela- work to not say anything unless we Tthe U.S. Supreme Court on consensus” that children raised tive degree of agreement that exists know what we are talking about. same-sex marriage have brought by same-sex parents fare just as among contemporary sociologists Sociologists cannot, by virtue of some attention to the sociological well as others. And, in a letter in on same-sex relationships is a mat- their expertise, take up any position community. The the Washington ter of convenience. on a non-academic matter and primary reason Post, the ASA The inconsistencies in socio- must remain cautious and mod- for this unex- Executive Officer logical research fueled the uproar est about the validity and value pected consider- similarly main- over the research conducted by of their research, not to mention ation came from tained that social Mark Regnerus. Without taking that of others. In my own position Justice Scalia, science research up a position on the validity of this that same-sex marriage should be who commented “consistently research, it is telling that the ASA allowed by developing appropriate during the and incon- amicus curiae brief devotes a large legal norms, for example, I remain hearing that “there’s considerable trovertibly” has shown that section to debunking the Regnerus wholly unaffected by any factual disagreement among sociologists” sexual orientation has no bear- research despite the fact that evidence as well as the values as to the consequences of same-sex ing on children’s well-being. Regnerus himself wrote that his others may hold. Rights are to be parenting on children’s well-being. (See.
footnotes • May/June 2013 13 American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org announcements
Sociologists for Women in Society program, authors should submit their Oakland University, and the Beau- Call for Papers (SWS) invites its members to The Ency- name, affiliation, contact informa- mont Health System co-sponsor a Publications clopedia of Family Studies, which will tion, working paper title and abstract Research Community Forum, titled “An be published (in print and online) by directly to one of the session organiz- Education Conference on Strategies for Journal of the British Sociological Wiley-Blackwell in 2015. The five-vol- ers listed in the Call for Papers and Optimizing the Protection of Human Association invites submissions ume project takes an international and Participation. Deadline for submissions Participants in Research,” at Oakland that will explore how sociology can interdisciplinary approach to the large to session organizers is June 7, 2013. University in Rochester, Michigan. Con- contribute to a better understanding and growing field of Family Studies. Contact: [email protected]; < tact: [email protected];
14 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association announcements
McManus Charitable Trust will make and the United States” on the Washing- Philip Cohen, University of Maryland- grants of up to $50,000 for research Fellowships ton Post blog, “Guest Voices.” College Park, was interviewed March 5 into the causes of alcohol and other The Penn Social Science and Policy on Minnesota Public Radio about the Forum is pleased to announce its Andrew A. Beveridge, Queens College drug addiction. A total of $150,000 to and Graduate Center-CUNY, and Ta- women’s movement 50 years after The $200,000 in grants will be awarded initial Summer Institute for Predis- Feminine Mystique. sertation Students to be held in June mara Mose Brown, Brooklyn College- this year to support basic, clinical, and CUNY, were quoted in a February 24 Justin Denney, Rice University, was social-environmental research. Only of 2013. Under the leadership of SSPF Director Thomas Sugrue of the New York Times article about how there quoted in a February 26 Houston nonprofits may apply, and no more is a waiting list for almost everything Chronicle article, “Married Heterosexual than 10 percent of the grant amount University of Pennsylvania and Profes- sor John Skrentny of the University from activities and classes to sports Couples Report Better Health than may be used for indirect costs. Ap- teams and local schools for parents of Same-Sex Couples,” about his Journal plicants should submit a two- to three- of California-San Diego, this program will provide opportunities for talented children in New York City. of Health and Social Behavior study, page summary proposal and proposed which he co-authored with Bridget K. budget along with a copy of their doctoral students in the social sciences Suzanne Bianchi, University of to visit the University of Pennsylvania California-Los Angeles, and Jerry Gorman and Cristina B. Barrera, both institution’s 501(c)3 letter and a bio- of Rice University. sketch of the investigator. Deadline: campus to explore research topics Jacobs, University of Pennsylvania, August 30, 2013. Contact: Katherine G. and scholarship related to the theme were quoted in a March 1 USA Today Nancy DiTomaso, Rutgers University, Lidz (610) 647-4974. of Inequality. Deadline: April 12, 2013. article, “More Wives Earning More Than was mentioned in a March 12 post, Contact: [email protected]; Their Spouse.” “Diverse Leadership: The White House Early Career Work and Family Schol-
16 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association announcements
Scott Schieman, University of Toronto, mentioned in a March 14 TIME.com Justin Farrell, University of Notre was profiled about his books, in the was quoted in a March 4 PsychCentral. article about their Journal of Health and Dame, has accepted an offer from Winter 2013 issue of the CSUEB Alumni com article, “Job Autonomy Helps but Social Behavior study, which suggests Yale University as Assistant Professor Magazine. High Status Jobs = Stress and Pressure.” that marriage may not always be as of Sociology in the School of Forestry Yu Xie, University of Michigan gave the Eran Shor, McGill University, and Arn- beneficial to health as experts have led and Environmental Studies, with a 2013 Henry and Bryna David lecture out van de Rijt, Stony Brook University, us to believe. The study was also the Joint Appointment, Department of on April 30, 2013, at the National Acad- were quoted in a March 28 NBCNews. subject of other news articles including Sociology. emies’ Keck Center, in Washington, DC. com article about their American Socio- U.S. News and World Report and Health. Michael Micklin, National Institutes Dr. Xie discussed claims and counter- logical Review study, which found that com on March 8. of Health (NIH), has assumed a new claims concerning the current state of true fame isn’t fleeting. The study was Tukufu Zuberi, University of Pennsylva- position at NIH in the Division of AIDS, American science. also the subject of articles in a number nia, was quoted in an April 2 USA Today Behavioral and Population Sciences of other media outlets including the op-ed, “Wickham: Africa Needs to Pave (DABP). He will serve both DABP and New Books Los Angeles Times, U.S. News and World its Own Road.” The op-ed also appeared the Center for Scientific Review as a Report, LiveScience.com, Yahoo!News, in the Statesman Journal on April 7. Senior Advisor. Berch Berberoglu, University of Ne- Smithsonian.com, and The Globe and vada-Reno, Political Sociology in a New Mail on March 28. Era: An Introduction to the State and Awards People Society (Paradigm Publishers, 2013). Gwen Sharp, Nevada State College, Javier Auyero, The University of Texas- Karen A. Cerulo, Rutgers University, was mentioned in a February 26 Brunsma, David L., Virginia Tech Austin, received a Harry Frank Guggen- was named the 2013-2014 Robin Wil- University, Brian Gran, Case Western MSNBC article, “‘Brogurt’: The Latest in heim fellowship to study violence in liams Lecturer by the Eastern Sociologi- Nonsensical Product Gendering.” Reserve University, and Keri Iyall Smith, urban communities in Argentina. cal Society. eds. The Handbook of Sociology and Hu- David Smilde, University of Georgia, Sally Bould, University of Delaware, Scott Desmond, IUPUI, was elected man Rights (Paradigm Publishers, 2012) was mentioned in a March 8 post, has been awarded a Senior Fellow- Council Member at Large for the North “GetGetReligion: the Ghost of Hugo Tom R. Burns, Uppsala University ship from the European Institutes Central Sociological Association. (Sweden) and Peter M. Hall, Colorado Chavez,” on the Religion News Service for Advanced Study (EURIAS) for the blog, “Spiritual Politics.” Leslie Elrod, University of Cincinnati, State University, eds. The Meta-Power academic year 2013-2014. was elected Treasurer of the North Paradigm: Impacts and Transforma- Jeremy Uecker, Baylor University, was Karen A. Cerulo, Rutgers University, Central Sociological Association. tions of Agents, Institutions, and Social quoted in a March 7 Huffington Post ar- was awarded the 2013 Eastern Socio- EC Ejiogu, Centre for Africa Studies, Systems (Peter Lang, 2013). ticle, “Divorce Research: Baylor University logical Merit Award, an honor given to Study Finds Divorce-Religion Link.” University of the Free State, South Rosalyn Benjamin Darling, Indiana distinguished scholars who have made Africa gave a Distinguished Lecture University of Pennsylvania, Disabil- Linda Waite, University of Chicago, outstanding contributions to the disci- entitled, “The Roots of Political Instabil- ity and Identity: Negotiating Self in and Pepper Schwartz, University of pline, the profession, and the ESS. ity in Nigeria” March 26 to mark Africa a Changing Society (Lynne Rienner Washington, were quoted in an April 2 Nancy Davis, DePaul University, and Awareness Week at Bridgewater State Publishers, 2013). Times Union column, “To Our (Mutual) Robert Robinson, Indiana University, University. Health.” Wilma A. Dunaway, Virginia Tech received the 2013 Scholarly Achieve- Alan Grigsby, University of Cincinnati, University, edited Gendered Commodity Ronald Weitzer, George Washington ment Award of the North Central was elected Student Section Chair of Chains: Seeing Women and Households University, was quoted in a February Sociological Association for Claiming the North Central Sociological Associa- in Global Production Networks (Stanford 26 Christian Science Monitor article, Society for God: Religious Movements tion. University Press, 2013). “Legacy of Christopher Dorner Case: and Social Welfare in Egypt, Israel, Italy, Rekindled Distrust, Resentment of and the United States (Indiana Univer- Matthew Lee, University of Akron, was Joe R. Feagin, Texas A&M University, Police.” sity Press, 2012). elected President-Elect of the North The White Racial Frame (2nd edition, Central Sociological Association. Routledge, 2013). Bruce Western, Harvard University, Alma Garcia, Santa Clara University, Megan Comfort, RTI International, and has been awarded the Susan Kopple- Annulla Linders, University of Cincin- Jack Fitzgerald, Knox College, and Raymond V. Liedka, Oakland Univer- man Award for the Best Anthology in nati, was elected Vice-President-Elect Jerry Fitzgerald, Statistics for Criminal sity, were quoted and Christopher Wil- Feminist Studies for her book: Contest- of the North Central Sociological Justice and Criminology in Practice and deman, Yale University, Becky Pettit, ed Images: Women of Color and Popular Association. Research (Sage, 2013). University of Washington, and Robert Culture (AltaMira Press, 2012). Stephen J. Morewitz, California William Feigelman, Nassau Commu- DeFina and Lance Hannon, both of Peter Kivisto, Augustana College, has State University-East Bay (CSUEB), nity College, co-authored with Beverly Villanova University, were mentioned been awarded an honorary doctorate in a February 19 New York Times article, by the Faculty of Humanities at the save the date “Prison and the Poverty Trap.” University of Turku, Finland. Brad Wilcox, University of Virginia, and William Julius Wilson, Harvard Andrew Cherlin, Johns Hopkins Uni- University, received the 2013 Daniel versity, were quoted in an April 4 post, Patrick Moynihan Prize. He will deliver 108th ASA Annual “People Who Marry Young are Happier, the Inaugural Daniel Patrick Moynihan But Those Who Marry Later Earn More,” Lecture on Social Science and Public Meeting on the Washington Post “Wonkblog.” Policy on May 9, 2013, at the National Patricia Wittberg, Indiana University– Press Club in Washington, DC. August 10-13, 2013 Purdue University Indianapolis, was Rachael A. Woldoff, West Virginia New York, NY quoted in a March 12 Reuters article, University, has been recognized by the “Special Report: The Impossible Job Urban Affairs Association (UAA) with - God’s CEO on Earth.” She was also the 2013 Best Book in Urban Affairs quoted in a February 24 Boston Globe Award. The award is given every other article, “What American Nuns Built.” year for the best book in the field of Jonathan Wynn, University of urban affairs/urban studies. Massachusetts-Amherst, was quoted in an April 1 NBCNews.com article about Transitions why people get pleasure from playing Alma Garcia, Santa Clara University, pranks. has recently been appointed the Direc- Hui Zheng, Ohio State University, tor of Latin American Studies Program was quoted and Patricia Thomas, at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, University of Texas-Austin, was CA.
footnotes • May/June 2013 17 American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org announcements
Feigleman, J. Jordan and J. McIntosh), design, program implementation, per- books and complete journal volumes. Addiction Technology Transfer Center Devastating Losses: How Parents Cope formance measurement/management, Samuel Sampson’s wish was that these of New England (with the goal of With the Death of a Child to Suicide or and evaluation design (developmental, publications remain together at an infusing alcohol and substance abuse Drugs (Springer Publishing Company, process, and summative evaluations). institution of higher education and knowledge into college curricula), and 2012). Contact: Tara Sheehan, tsheehan@ that they are in a supervised setting. more recently, served as an adviser Jaber F. Gubrium, University of appam.org or Douglas J. Besharov, Contact Patricia Sampson can be to the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Missouri, and Margaretha Järvinen, [email protected];
18 footnotes • May/June 2013 footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association announcements
The PhD Program in sociology at the Still further, Marwell demonstrated Following his retirement from the concerns with research, summarized CUNY Graduate Center is planning how the presence of a “critical mass” of University of Wisconsin, Marwell was as “truth tests” and “utility tests.” She an event to memorialize David Lavin individuals, able to devote substantial appointed Professor of Sociology also worked on the Bureau’s survey and his research on educational op- resources to collective undertakings, at New York University, where he of more than 500 leaders of major portunity. Details of that event will be deterred free-riding and induced other taught courses on the sociology of governmental bodies and private insti- announced shortly. individuals to join and contribute to religion and the sociology of sport tutions (big corporations, big unions, those undertakings. These findings, and continued his innovative research ethnic rights organizations, leading Paul Attewell and Richard Alba, CUNY as well as a range of complementary on American religious practices. He national media) on their perceptions Graduate Center results from additional experimental is survived by his wife of 55 years, of social problems and their policy work that he carried out, have had psychologist Barbara Marwell, their ideologies. Based on this research, Gerald Marwell worldwide impact on altering the children Nicole and Evan, and four her Public Opinion Quarterly paper, 1937-2013 direction of research on collective grandchildren. “What America’s Leaders Read,” was Gerald Marwell, a social scientist in- action. the Bureau’s most-requested reprint of For a press release issued by the ternationally renowned for his pioneer- that period, especially by the New York Marwell’s concern with this subject University of Wisconsin-Madison, see ing research on social cooperation and Times. This article demonstrated differ- led him also to conduct one of the ear-
footnotes • May/June 2013 19 American Sociological Association NON-PROFIT ORG. 1430 K Street NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 U.S. POSTAGE PAID ALBANY, NY PERMIT NO. 364
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