Hard Times: UC Sociologists Present Research at National Meeting

University of Cincinnati faculty and graduate students are among researchers this week taking the national stage to reveal the devastating impact of economic inequality.

The 109th annual meeting of the American Sociological Association is underway in San Francisco.

The ASA reports that since the Great Recession of 2008, the scope of economic inequality has significantly grown, particularly among Americans, with its consequences taking a tough toll on families with children. The annual meeting is themed “Hard Times: The Impact of Economic Inequality on Families and Individuals” and will examine the multiple ways in which inequality echoes throughout American society and the world.

UC research by faculty as well as graduate students is regularly screened and selected to be presented at the annual meeting. Here are highlights of some of that UC research:

Does State-Level Context Matter for Individual’s Knowledge about Abortion and Health? Challenging the “Red States v. Blue States” Hypothesis

UC Lead Researcher: Danielle Bessett, assistant professor

A new survey uncovers surprising findings regarding political polarization and knowledge about abortion and health.

More Guns Yields Less Butter: Child Mortality and the Mediators of Praetorian Militarization

UC Lead Researcher: Steve Carlton-Ford, professor and head of the UC sociology department

Researchers reveal how general populations benefit from some forms of military organization, as well as how militarization exerts a negative impact on civilians.

Learning to Wear the White Collar: Family and Class Origins in Dressing for Corporate Work

UC Researcher: Erynn Masi de Casanova, assistant professor

Research examines male influences on “looking” middle class. It’s a unique look at how family, identity and culture influence appearance.

Bearing Witness: Victims’ Relatives and Challenges to the Execution Narrative

UC Researcher: Annula Linders, associate professor

UC research finds a new source of pressure on the process of executions previous to the “botched” execution last spring.

Making the (Pay) Grade: Racial Variance in Financial Payoff to Academic Success

UC Researcher: Ervin (Maliq) Matthew, assistant professor

Despite academic achievement, pay gaps likely continue between the races.

Ex-Offenders and Stigma Management: Combining Redemption and Contestation Scripts to Form Successful Desistance Strategies

UC Researcher: Todd Michael Callais, assistant professor, UC Blue Ash College

Research examines the stigma that ex-offenders carry with them, as well as how they manage how they will be perceived.

About the American Sociological Association

The ASA is a non profit membership association dedicated to serving sociologists in their work, advancing sociology as a science and profession and promoting the contributions and use of sociology to society. Nearly 600 program sessions are convened during the annual meeting.

UC’s Department of Sociology

in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences has nationally recognized faculty with award-winning publications and research grants.