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We welcome dissertation chapters, voice memos, vague thoughts, lecture notes, and data analysis that speaks for itself. Use your sociological imagination.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Manuscript Types</strong></h3> <ol> <li>Theoretical Speculations – Wildly ambitious frameworks with no empirical evidence.</li> <li>Data? – Raw numbers in an Excel file, preferably unformatted.</li> <li>Ethnographic Musings – 1-2 notes jotted down on a used napkin.</li> <li>Methodological Hot Takes – No actual study, just vibes.</li> <li>Unfinished Dissertations – Someone, someday might just read it.</li> </ol> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Submission Guidelines</strong></h3> <ol> <li>Proposing sociological questions?</li> <li>Fully conceptualized, partially completed work is acceptable.</li> <li>Include 1+ cite(s) you “meant to look up later.”Placeholders and “TBD” acceptable.</li> <li>Feature tables and figures that may or may not be related to the topic.</li> <li>Write the conclusion at 2 AM, ideally over- or under-caffeinated.</li> <li>ORCHID ID required.</li> </ol> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Formatting Requirements</strong></h3> <ol> <li>Length: We encourage all manuscripts to be between 500 words and wherever your heart tells you to stop.</li> <li>Proofreeding optional.</li> <li>Font: Something not so basic, expand your horizons.</li> <li>Citations: Surprise us. APA, MLA, CFG, SSD, GHD, DGD, NFL, NHL, KCF… </li> <li>Abstract: Don’t be too, somewhat vague.</li> <li>References: <strong><em>Don’t forget anyone</em></strong>, because we will send it to whomever you forget to cite…</li> </ol> <p>References: <strong><em>Don’t forget anyone</em></strong>, because we will look through and will send it to whomever you forgot to cite…</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Peer Review Process</strong></h3> <p>All submissions will undergo our patented Mega-Triple-Blind Peer Review System™, where:</p> <ol> <li>The authors forget what they wrote.</li> <li>The reviewers skim the abstract and pick 1 or 2 arbitrary things to call out.</li> <li>The editors decide based on their breakfast.</li> </ol> <p>We <strong><em>guarantee</em></strong> comprehensive feedback (e.g., “Interesting…” and “?”).</p> <p>If your paper is rejected, you may submit an appeal by:</p> <ol> <li>Resending the same manuscript in a different font.</li> <li>Signing an affidavit attesting that “Foucault would have accepted this.”</li> <li>Threatening to start your own journal.</li> </ol> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How to Submit:</strong></h3> <p>Send your completed-ish manuscript via:</p> <ol> <li>A blurry PDF screenshot in an email attachment labeled “Final_Draft_3_(Actually_Final).doc”</li> <li>A Google Doc with unresolved comments.</li> <li>Mail.</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" data-rel="lightbox-video-0">AJUS <strong>Signal</strong> Editors Only Group Chat</a>.</li> <li>Give us a call and read it aloud: ‪(715) 600-2187‬ (after 10:33 PM only)</li> </ol> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2025/03/06/social-isolation-and-loneliness-of-young-adults/">Social Isolation and “Loneliness” of Young Adults</a></h2> <div class="byline"> Jacob Otis on March 6, 2025 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2025/03/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050289-1-scaled.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2025/03/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050289-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3486" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2025/03/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050289-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2025/03/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050289-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2025/03/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050289-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2025/03/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050289-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2025/03/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050289-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2025/03/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050289-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure> <p><em>A young woman sitting on her couch with her laptop, drinking coffee alone. Image by<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/mylene2401-10328767/"> </a><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@vlada-karpovich/">Vlada Karpovich</a><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@ekaterina-bolovtsova/"> </a>from Pexels is licensed under <a href="https://www.pexels.com/license/">Pexels license</a>.</em></p> <p>Stories of young people self-isolating frequent national headlines, with <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/american-loneliness-personality-politics/681091/"><em>The Atlantic</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/05/02/1173418268/loneliness-connection-mental-health-dementia-surgeon-general"><em>NPR</em></a>, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/loneliness-crisis-sweeping-america-deadly-smoking-surgeon-general-warns"><em>Fox</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/magazine/loneliness-epidemic-cure.html"><em>The New York Times</em></a> and others shedding light on this growing pattern. Loneliness, an inherent source of human anxiety, has been tied to many <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7324a1.htm">negative health impacts</a> and societal level ripple effects. But, understanding this trend thoroughly is important to start addressing it – and that’s where social science comes in.</p> <ul> <li>Eric Klinenberg. 2016. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4985072/">Social isolation, loneliness, and living alone: identifying the risks for public health</a>. <em>American Journal of Public Health</em>, 106(5): 786.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Loneliness</strong></h3> <p>30-something year old, single man living in his parents basement, watching television or playing video games. Or the female equivalent, a single woman generously pampering her pet(s) and posting it online for the world to see. However, while young people are spending more time at home, researchers have also found that they are also more likely to eat out at restaurants, exercise at the gym, and volunteer. In other words, we <strong>think</strong> young people are lonely — in a traditional sense.</p> <ul> <li>Patrick Sharkey. 2024. <a href="https://sociologicalscience.com/articles-v11-20-553/?ref=econdevshow.com">Homebound: The long-term rise in time spent at home among US adults.</a> <em>Sociological Science</em>, 11(1): 553-578.</li> <li>Liana Sayer and Hope Xu Yan. 2024. <a href="https://www.e-elgar.com/"><em>Gendered Trends in Leisure Time in Research Handbook on Time-Use and Society</em></a>, edited by Oriel Sullivan and Michael Bittman. Edward Elgar Publishing.</li> </ul> <p>So why do some young adults appear to withdraw from social life? One key factor is the stigma surrounding unemployment, traditional employment, and not enrolling in higher education, which has been linked to social withdrawal. Many individuals fear being judged for their job or student status, leading them to disengage from social interactions. Additionally, lower income levels can amplify feelings of inadequacy compared to their peers. Another major contributor is poor physical and mental health, which can create a cycle: declining health leads to isolation, and in turn, isolation worsens overall well-being.</p> <ul> <li>Michelle Peterie, Gaby Ramia, Greg Marston, and Roger Patulny. 2019. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0038038519856813">Social isolation as stigma-management: explaining long-term unemployed people’s ‘failure to network.</a> <em>Sociology</em> 53(6): 1043-1060.</li> <li>Duncan Gallie, Serge Paugam, and Sheila Jacobs. 2003. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1461669032000057668?casa_token=d6YV6E9Y5WcAAAAA:3RCLaUt8l9_clpXFsrGAaOYFMGiGpJS4x6p_hIc3in5lJGhijstKWSClhFC8gFpl5Stjb9zw6fzpFQ">Unemployment, poverty and social isolation: Is there a vicious circle of social exclusion?</a>. <em>European Societies</em> 5(1): 1-32.</li> <li>Sarah Nettleton. 2020. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Sociology_of_Health_and_Illness/1EsIEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=health+self+isolation+low+sociology&pg=PA1933&printsec=frontcover"><em>The sociology of health and illness</em></a>. John Wiley & Sons.</li> <li>Jonathan Haidt. 2024. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036"><em>The anxious generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness</em>.</a> Penguin.</li> </ul> <p>And of course…technology. Some research has called out how excessive reliance on technology for connection has reduced face-to-face connections, weakening relationships and increasing feelings of loneliness. However, technology can also expand social networks by enabling connections across distances, providing support and interaction that might not be physically possible otherwise. Yet, online communities can devolve into arenas for cyberbullying and harassment, leading to significant psychological distress and even radicalization. Nonetheless, online forums are not going anywhere and must be considered in discussion.</p> <ul> <li>Jean Twenge, Brian Spitzberg, and Keith Campbell. 2019. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407519836170">Less in-person social interaction with peers among US adolescents in the 21st century and links to loneliness</a>. <em>Journal of Social and Personal Relationships </em>36(6): 1892-1913.</li> <li>Sherry Turkle. <em><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-02278-000">Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other.</a> </em>Basic Books.</li> <li>Justin Cheng, Cristian Danescu-Niculescu-Mizil, and Jure Leskovec. 2015. <a href="https://ojs.aaai.org/index.php/ICWSM/article/view/14583"><em>Antisocial behavior in online discussion communities</em></a>. AAAI 9(1): 61-70.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Addressing Loneliness</strong></h3> <p>This pattern of apparent, increased loneliness began decades again, first beginning to build momentum in the 1970s. <a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/robert-d-putnam">Robert Putnam</a>’s <a href="http://bowlingalone.com/"><em>Bowling Alone</em></a> was an early warning bell of how the erosion of civic engagement, social networks, and the increase of technology are contributing to a world where it’s not easy to make and maintain face-to-face connections. This, in turn, has led to a now audible historical echo of an increase in individualism and lack of civic engagement now in the 2020s.</p> <ul> <li>Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett. 2024. <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Upswing/Robert-D-Putnam/9781982129156"><em>The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again, United States, 1890-2020</em>.</a> Simon and Schuster.</li> <li>Marc Dunkelman. 2014. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Vanishing_Neighbor_The_Transformatio/4q1bAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Marc+J.+Dunkelman&pg=PT5&printsec=frontcover"><em>The vanishing neighbor: The transformation of American community</em>.</a> WW Norton & Company.</li> </ul> <p>Research on clinical interventions for extreme loneliness, such as intensive socialization programs for young people, has largely shown these efforts to be ineffective—underscoring the need for <strong>broader, societal improvements</strong>. Experts argue that investing in social infrastructure—such as schools, libraries, museums, and sports facilities—can create shared spaces that encourage natural, meaningful interactions. Additionally, technology policies should be designed to enhance (rather than replace) in-person engagement, address concerns over excessive screen time, online toxicity, and the decline of face-to-face relationships.</p> <ul> <li>Tom Osborn, Peter Weatherburn, Rebecca French. 2021. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140197121001317?casa_token=D8SidRK-hxcAAAAA:VEDk7CMrFzxRjy9wHFFe26HRbENox1e4ox2b9uwZ5iZOTWV423gT3_e6vtM-Mua3X2FSFMOvKhI">Interventions to address loneliness and social isolation in young people: A systematic review of the evidence on acceptability and effectiveness</a>. <em>Journal of Adolescence</em>: 53-79.</li> <li>Eric Klinenberg. 2013. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Going-Solo-Extraordinary-Surprising-Appeal/dp/1594203229"><em>Going solo: The extraordinary rise and surprising appeal of living alone</em>.</a> Penguin.</li> <li>Eric Klinenberg. 2018. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Palaces_for_the_People/j21DDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=info:A1bb5t8KoPUJ:scholar.google.com&pg=PA1&printsec=frontcover"><em>Palaces for the people: How social infrastructure can help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life.</em></a> Penguin.</li> </ul> <p>However, while some view this shift as inherently negative, some see it as a reflection of changing preferences, where physical solitude and selective socialization are embraced rather than feared. From this perspective, the rise of personal digital communication, remote work, and independent lifestyles can be seen as expanding social choice rather than simply signaling social decline.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/12/30/best-of-2024-curriculum-culture-wars-and-sociology-in-the-classroombest-of-2024/">Best of 2024: Curriculum, Culture Wars, and Sociology in the Classroom</a></h2> <div class="byline"> Forrest Lovette and John Purnell on December 30, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/12/pexels-pixabay-356065-scaled-1.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1829" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/12/pexels-pixabay-356065-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3475" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/12/pexels-pixabay-356065-scaled-1.jpg 2560w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/12/pexels-pixabay-356065-scaled-1-300x214.jpg 300w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/12/pexels-pixabay-356065-scaled-1-600x429.jpg 600w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/12/pexels-pixabay-356065-scaled-1-768x549.jpg 768w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/12/pexels-pixabay-356065-scaled-1-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/12/pexels-pixabay-356065-scaled-1-2048x1463.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure> <p>A large college lecture hall, with some seats brightly lit and others covered in an ominous shadow. <em>Photo by </em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/">Pixabay</a> from <a href="https://www.pexels.com/">Pexels </a>under<em> <a href="https://www.pexels.com/license/">Pexels license</a>.</em></p> <p>On November 9th, 2023 the Florida Board of Governors <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/us/florida-universities-sociology.html">voted to remove “Principles of Sociology” from the list of required courses at all public colleges</a>. Manny Diaz Jr, the state’s education commissioner, wrote on social media that “sociology has been hijacked by left-wing activists.” In response, the president of the American Sociological Association, Joya Misra, <a href="https://www.asanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/member-letter-florida-removes-sociology-from-core-requirements.pdf">released a statement defending the importance of sociology in higher education</a>. The decision in Florida has jolted the sociology community into an identity crisis and led to a broad, far-ranging debate about and defense of the value of the discipline. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Value of Sociology</h3> <p>Although the first department of sociology was established in the late 19th century, the discipline remains difficult to define. For those outside of the field, Sociology is often confused with social work or even socialism. But even among sociologists, there have been lasting debates about what constitutes and defines the discipline, its object(s) of study, and its unique way of viewing the world. Even its status as a science is a perennial question: should sociological observations be considered objective facts as in the natural sciences, or will social realities always be subjective and biased? The recent policy changes in Florida’s higher education curriculum have caused sociology insiders and outsiders alike to ask if it’s a science and what sort of utility it has in the real world. </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01605976231214730?casa_token=W0HmirSRrcsAAAAA%3AJc8rz64ACE0hD4O2oyR-c62MzWFELZb1tGTtpDaXGHGXtKRTCdqji7z7f5Jkq9VHxfBPlnEGqLUKIg">Buggs, Shantel Gabrieal. 2024. “Fighting the Fascists: What Can Sociology Teach Our Students?” <em>Humanity and Society</em> 48(1):77-88. </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/657638">Boudon, Raymond. 1988. “Will Sociology Ever Be a ‘Normal Science?’” <em>Theory and Society</em> 17(5):747–71.</a></li> <li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0094306116653958">Burawoy, Michael. 2016. “Sociology as a Vocation.” <em>Contemporary Sociology</em> 45(4):379-393. </a></li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Anti-intellectualism</h3> <p>Though the attacks on sociology by politicians and policymakers have made headlines recently, lambasting higher education is nothing new in American politics. Since the late 1960s, sociologists and other scholars have been studying anti-intellectualism – holding distrustful and disparaging attitudes towards experts and respected scientists – in the United States. Acclaimed historian Dr. Richard Hoffstadter famously published <em>Anti-Intellectualism in American Life </em>in 1963, which in part argued that the construction of intellectuals as ‘elite’ members of society diminishes their reputation as trustworthy amongst the general public. This framing makes them a target for politicians who claim to ‘represent the people,’ and can transform generally accepted scientific theories into potent political wedge issues. </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/doi/10.1111/j.1475-682X.1991.tb00172.x">Rigney, D. (1991), Three Kinds of Anti-Intellectualism: Rethinking Hofstadter†. Sociological Inquiry, 61: 434-451.</a></li> <li><a href="https://primo.lib.umn.edu/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9949787900001701&context=L&vid=01UMN_INST:TWINCITIES&lang=en&search_scope=TwinCitiesCampus_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,Anti-Intellectualism%20in%20American%20Life&sortby=date_d&facet=frbrgroupid,include,9028360129254433789&offset=0">Hofstadter, R. (1963). <em>Anti-intellectualism in American life</em></a></li> <li><a href="https://doi-org.ezp3.lib.umn.edu/10.1177/1532673X17719507">Motta, M. (2018). The Dynamics and Political Implications of Anti-Intellectualism in the United States. American Politics Research, 46(3), 465-498.</a></li> </ul> <p>The internet’s inception has significantly impacted the form and salience of anti-intellectualism in American society. The racial, social, and economic inequalities that continue to afflict the country have become exceedingly visible through online media. The internet has also provided a platform for creating false and misleading content and its widespread distribution and dissemination. The convoluted flurry of articles, figures, and ‘facts’ uploaded to social media and news websites has given anti-intellectualism a contemporary twist that researchers from all scholarly fields must confront if they haven’t already.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://doi-org.ezp2.lib.umn.edu/10.1177/0011392119837536">Giglietto, F., Iannelli, L., Valeriani, A., & Rossi, L. (2019). ‘Fake news’ is the invention of a liar: How false information circulates within the hybrid news system. Current Sociology, 67(4), 625-642.</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/43957106">Abbott, A. (2016). The Demography of Scholarly Reading. <em>The American Sociologist</em>, <em>47</em>(2/3), 302–318.</a></li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sociology’s Contributions</h3> <p>Sociology often forces us to confront uncomfortable or inconvenient truths about social life. This makes the social sciences a target for politicians seeking an academic scapegoat or those embroiled in the anti-intellectualism movement. Despite these efforts, sociology remains a discipline of deep theoretical foundations and valuable scholarship in the search for knowledge, shared realities, and truth. One of the major subdisciplines in the field is the Sociology of Knowledge which is concerned with knowledge production in society and how we collectively construct our societies.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://amstudugm.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/social-construction-of-reality.pdf">Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1967). The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge. Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315002828/ideology-utopia-karl-mannheim">Mannheim, K. (1991). Ideology and Utopia (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315002828</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315129884-2/sociology-knowledge-robert-merton">Merton, R. K. (2017). The sociology of knowledge. In Society and Knowledge (pp. 35-66). Routledge.</a></li> </ul> <p>While attacks on the discipline have been motivated mainly by political conservatives in the United States, it’s important to note that no one political ideology is promoted by sociology. For example, Ronald Reagan and Michelle Obama were sociology majors. Rather than forcing a specific set of moral or idealistic values on those who study it, sociology empowers people across a range of political persuasions to study, critique, and act upon our complex surroundings. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/11/05/humor-and-memes-in-politics/">Humor and Memes in Politics</a></h2> <div class="byline"> Jordyn Wald on November 5, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/11/tr.png" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="581" height="403" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/11/tr.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3470" style="width:708px;height:auto" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/11/tr.png 581w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/11/tr-300x208.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px" /></a></figure> <p>Donald Trump with a red background and Kamala Harris with a blue background. Photo by author, Jordyn Wald, CC0 (no rights reserved).</p> <p>Humor isn’t just amusement—it also reflects the dynamics of society. Humor can reinforce group identities, challenge authority, mobilize others to drive social change – and it helps us talk about social tensions in a way that feels easier to handle. This holds in politics as much as other social domains. In politics, humor helps people connect with candidates, rally support, and make sense of tough issues. In today’s election, supporters use memes and humor to boost candidates’ images, mock opponents, and generate political engagement.</p> <ul> <li>John Morreal. 2009. <a href="https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/doi/10.1002/9781444307795.ch1">“No Laughing Matter: The Traditional Rejection of Humor and Traditional Theories of Humor.”</a> In <em>The Philosophy of Laughter and Humor</em>, edited by J. Morreal. Wiley, pp. 1–26. </li> <li>Giselinde Kuipers. 2008. <a href="https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110198492.361/html">“The sociology of humor”.</a> <em>The Primer of Humor Research</em>, edited by Victor Raskin. De Gruyter Mouton, 2008, pp. 361-398. </li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Political Participation</strong></h3> <p>Humor and <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/clippings/2019/05/07/politics-protests-and-activist-memes/">memes</a> can inspire public participation in political conversations and support social action by spreading viral messages that strengthen group identity or challenge opponents. As participatory media, memes encourage users to remix content, making complex political issues more accessible and engaging. By framing critiques as “just jokes,” the public can combine humor with political critique, capture more attention, impact public opinion, and reduce tension.</p> <p>For example, during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, memes like <a href="https://www.advocate.com/election/2016/9/14/trump-clinton-and-deplorable-picture">“Basket of Deplorables”</a> and <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Women%27s_March%2C_January_21_2017%2C_Chicago_%2831601577104%29.jpg/800px-Women%27s_March%2C_January_21_2017%2C_Chicago_%2831601577104%29.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-1" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title="">“Nasty Woman”</a> became rallying cries and cultural tools to 1) mock opponents, 2) signal political affiliation and 3) be politically engaged. In the 2024 election, supporters are once again using memes to make political points. These include exaggerated <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/nx-s1-5087913/donald-trump-artificial-intelligence-memes-deepfakes-taylor-swift">AI-generated memes</a> geared to boost Donald Trump’s image as strong and confident, or memes that turn <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/23/arts/kamala-harris-tiktok-trump.html">Kamala Harris’</a> past criticisms with a lighthearted tone to boost her image as approachable and resilient.</p> <ul> <li>Uygay Baspehlivan. 2024. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olae026">“Cucktales: Race, Sex, and Enjoyment in the Reactionary Memescape.”</a> International Political Sociology 18(3). </li> <li>Rachel V. Kutz-Flamenbaum. 2014. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12138">“Humor and Social Movements.”</a> Sociology Compass 8(3):294–304. </li> <li>Olivera Tesnohlidkova. 2021. <a href="https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/soc4.12842">“Humor and satire in politics: Introducing cultural sociology to the field.”</a> Sociology Compass 15: e12842. </li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Political Protest and Opposition</strong></h3> <p>Humor in protests and political opposition can empower activists to challenge authority and express discontent. In social movements, it delivers powerful messages, strengthens group bonds, and provides emotional support. Humor also makes challenging authority feel less confrontational, allowing for open conversations about change. Through satire, irony, and parody, activists connect emotionally with audiences, question power structures, and make complex issues more approachable. </p> <p>However, while humor can reveal flaws in those in power, its playful nature risks being misunderstood if not used carefully. For instance, humor’s lightheartedness can weaken messages when audiences miss the criticism or view it as only entertainment.</p> <ul> <li>Harry H. Hiller. 1983. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987449">“Humor and hostility: A neglected aspect of social movement analysis.”</a> <em>Qualitative Sociology</em> 6, 255–265 (1983). </li> <li>Sørensen, Majken Jul. 2017. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/pech.12220">“Laughing on the Way to Social Change: Humor and Nonviolent Action Theory.”</a>Peace & Change 42(1):128-156.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Humor Styles and Political Appeal</strong></h3> <p>Researchers have shown that humor in political messages can impact a politician’s appeal and voter support, depending on the type of humor. Karakaya and Edgell found that right-wing politicians, like Trump, often use confrontational humor to strengthen support among their base, especially among those frustrated with political elites. Trump’s outspoken humor, inspired by stand-up and sports culture, portrays him as a bold challenger of the political system, appealing to his supporters but potentially pushing away moderates who find it polarizing.</p> <p>Generally, both left and right wing politicians often use humor as a tactic to address social issues and critique those in power. By employing self-mocking or inclusive jokes, politicians can connect more broadly with audiences, deflect criticism, and enhance the relatability of their messages. For instance, Kamala Harris uses humor in her challenge to Donald Trump to <a href="https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2024-07-31/say-it-to-my-face-kamala-harris-fights-back-with-humor">“say it to my face”</a> aiming to deflect criticism and connect with her audience, while Donald Trump often uses <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/03/17/how-donald-trump-uses-humor-to-make-the-outrageous-sound-normal-00146119">sarcasm</a> to deflect accusations and build a strong base of supporters.</p> <p>Although political humor from both sides can boost likability, it risks backfiring if it feels insincere or too harsh, making politicians seem unapproachable and turning voters away. Any type of humor—whether aggressive, self-mocking, or inclusive—loses its impact when it feels forced or overdone.</p> <ul> <li>Yagmur Karakaya, Penny Edgell. 2022. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soab150">“From Politics as Vocation to Politics as Business: Populist Social Performance and Narrative Fusion in Trump Rallies.”</a>Social Forces, Volume 101, Issue 2, December 2022, Pages 890–912.</li> <li>Mendiburo-Seguel, Andrés, Andrew R. Olah, Dario Paez, and Patricio Navia. 2024. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2024.1398686">“Laughing Your Vote Off: The Impact of Candidates’ Humor on Voters’ Emotions and Intentions.”</a>. <em>Frontiers in Political Science</em> 6. </li> <li>Mendiburo-Seguel, Andrés, Stéphanie Alenda, Thomas E. Ford, Andrew R. Olah, and Patricio D. Navia. 2022. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2022.788742">“#funnypoliticians: How Do Political Figures Use Humor on Twitter?”</a> F<em>rontiers in Sociology</em> 7.</li> <li>Hans Speier. 1998. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/231355">“Wit and Politics: An Essay on Laughter and Power.”</a> <em>American Journal of Sociology</em> 103(5):1352-1401. </li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>When Studying Humor Gets Too Serious</strong></h3> <p>Funny enough, social scientists studying humor, however, are often called out for “taking the fun out of it” – overanalyzing jokes and memes with theories that strip away their spontaneity and enjoyment. This creates a paradox: while humor offers valuable insights into social boundaries, challenges to authority, and the ways we build connections, studying it too closely can strip away the very lightheartedness that makes it engaging in the first place. As E.B. White put it, ‘Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.’ Yet, understanding humor’s role gives us valuable insight into how it shapes our social and political landscape.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/10/30/what-they-dont-want-you-to-know-about-conspiracy-theories/">What “They” Don’t Want You to Know About Conspiracy Theories</a></h2> <div class="byline"> S Ericson on October 30, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/57420134_b5f5e1e68d_o-1.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/57420134_b5f5e1e68d_o-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3465" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/57420134_b5f5e1e68d_o-1.jpg 800w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/57420134_b5f5e1e68d_o-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/57420134_b5f5e1e68d_o-1-600x450.jpg 600w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/57420134_b5f5e1e68d_o-1-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></a></figure> <p>A young man holding a pamphlet labeled “The Truth”, donning a red, striped tie and tin-foil hat. “<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35468138867@N01/57420134">Conspiracy Nut</a>” by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/emigh/">Will</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse">CC BY 2.0</a> on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/">Flickr</a>.</p> <p>Is there “a single group of people who secretly control events and rule the world together”? According to <a href="https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48113-which-conspiracy-theories-do-americans-believe">a December 2023 poll by YouGov</a>, 41% of Americans think so. Even more – 54% – said Lee Harvey Oswald wasn’t acting alone when he shot President John F. Kennedy. No matter how you slice it, belief in conspiracy theories is widespread. But what actually <em>is</em> a conspiracy theory? And why do so many people believe in them, while others don’t? There’s a wide array of social science research that has tried to answer these and other questions related to these controversial ideas.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What is a Conspiracy Theory, Anyway?</strong></h3> <p>Scholars have offered multiple definitions of a conspiracy theory. According to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329816708_Conspiracy_Rumor_Psychology" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329816708_Conspiracy_Rumor_Psychology">one definition</a>, a conspiracy theory alleges that “powerful and secretive groups” of people are engaged in some kind of evil and secret activity. In another definition, the conspiratorial worldview has three main components. 1) “<em>nothing happens by accident</em>”: world events almost always happen because someone intended for them to happen. 2) “<em>nothing is as it seems</em>”: agents of the conspiracy are lying to you. 3) “<em>everything is connected</em>”: secret patterns are everywhere.</p> <ul> <li>Hayagreeva Rao, and Henrich Greve. 2024. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-030222-031142">The Plot Thickens: A Sociology of Conspiracy Theories</a>.” <em>Annual Review of Sociology</em> 50(1):191–207. doi: 10.1146/annurev-soc-030222-031142.</li> <li>Nicholas DiFonzo. 2018. “<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329816708_Conspiracy_Rumor_Psychology">Conspiracy Rumor Psychology</a>.” Pp. 257–68 in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/25369"><em>Conspiracy Theories and the People Who Believe Them</em></a>. Oxford University Press.</li> <li>Michael Barkun. 2013. <a href="https://www.ucpress.edu/books/a-culture-of-conspiracy/paper"><em>A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary</em></a><a href="https://primo.lib.umn.edu/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9919909930001701&context=L&vid=01UMN_INST:TWINCITIES&lang=en&search_scope=TwinCitiesCampus_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true"><em> </em></a><a href="https://primo.lib.umn.edu/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9919909930001701&context=L&vid=01UMN_INST:TWINCITIES&lang=en&search_scope=TwinCitiesCampus_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true"><em>America</em></a>. Second Edition. Berkeley: University of California Press.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Why Do People Believe?</strong></h3> <p>Many different people believe in many different conspiracy theories for many different reasons. Nonetheless, people are more likely to believe in some circumstances more than others. In general, people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories that portray their political opponents negatively. Also, people who know a lot about politics but don’t trust either powerful institutions or other people very much are especially likely to believe in conspiracy theories. </p> <p>One recent paper found that conspiracy beliefs are “U-shaped”: those at the top and bottom of the socioeconomic ladder are more likely to believe in them, while people in the middle are less likely to believe. People are also more likely to believe in conspiracy theories during potentially threatening or insecure times in society, such as higher levels of unemployment, as well as political and demographic changes.</p> <ul> <li>Joanne Miller, Kyle L. Saunders, and Christina E. Farhart. 2016. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12234">Conspiracy Endorsement as Motivated Reasoning: The Moderating Roles of Political Knowledge and Trust</a>.” <em>American Journal of Political Science</em> 60(4):824–44. doi: 10.1111/ajps.12234.</li> <li>Joseph DiGrazia. 2017. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2378023116689791">The Social Determinants of Conspiratorial Ideation</a>.” <em>Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World</em> 3:2378023116689791. Doi: 10.1177/2378023116689791.</li> <li> Saverio Roscigno. 2024. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/23780231241237654">The Status Foundations of Conspiracy Beliefs</a>.” <em>Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World</em> 10:23780231241237654. Doi: 10.1177/23780231241237654.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mixing It Up</strong></h3> <p>Scholars have compared conspiracy theories to other types of ideas, including rumors, folk theories, and fake news. Whatever we call them, the things we think we know are always grounded in our communities and social norms. The truth is always contested. The social construction of “knowledge” is especially true for subjects where most non-specialists don’t have a lot of prior experience, such as science or medicine. </p> <p>Conspiracy theories are an example of “stigmatized knowledge”: ideas that are denied by mainstream institutions like universities, the scientific community, and the government. Some argue that these ideas are becoming more mainstream, in part thanks to the internet and declining trust in authority. Some scholars claim that, while promoters of stigmatized ideas oppose what they view as the mainstream, they are often receptive to each other’s beliefs. For example, one study found that after people started believing in conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic, they often started to hold more conspiratorial beliefs in general.</p> <ul> <li>Michael Barkun. 2015. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0392192116669288">Conspiracy Theories as Stigmatized Knowledge</a>.” <em>Diogenes</em> 62(3–4):114–20. doi: 10.1177/0392192116669288.</li> <li>Colin Campbell. 2002. “The Cult, the Cultic Milieu and Secularization.” in <em>The Cultic Milieu: Oppositional Subcultures in an Age of Globalization</em>, eds. Jeffrey Kaplan and Heléne Lӧӧw. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.</li> <li>David G. Robertson. 2020. “<a href="https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/the-sage-encyclopedia-of-sociology-of-religion/i3237.xml">Cultic Milieu</a>.” in <em>The SAGE Encyclopedia of the Sociology of Religion</em>, edited by A. Possamai and A. J. Blasi. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, California 91320: SAGE Publications, Inc.</li> <li>Gary Alan Fine. 2021. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1971-8853/11620">Viral Buzz: Rumor and Its Disruptions in Pandemic Uncertainty</a>.” <em>Sociologica</em> 43-53 Pages. doi: 10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/11620.</li> <li>Samayoa Granados, Javier A., Courtney A. Moore, Benjamin C. Ruisch, Shelby T. Boggs, Jesse T. Ladanyi, and Russell H. Fazio. 2022. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275502">A Gateway Conspiracy? Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Prospectively Predicts Greater Conspiracist Ideation</a>” edited by R. Rowe. <em>PLOS ONE</em> 17(10):e0275502. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275502.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/10/24/restorative-justice/">Restorative Justice</a></h2> <div class="byline"> <a href="/trot/author/jake">jake</a> on October 24, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-nandhukumar-4068986-2-scaled.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-nandhukumar-4068986-2-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3455" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-nandhukumar-4068986-2-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-nandhukumar-4068986-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-nandhukumar-4068986-2-600x400.jpg 600w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-nandhukumar-4068986-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-nandhukumar-4068986-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-nandhukumar-4068986-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure> <p><em>Green grass with morning dew clinging and glowing in the sunlight. Image by </em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@nandhukumar/">Nandhu Kumar</a><em> </em><em>from Pexels is licensed under </em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/license/"><em>Pexels license</em></a>.</p> <p>When a crime is committed, the harm done to victims and communities can rarely be healed by writing a check or locking someone up. Yet the U.S. criminal justice system’s approach relies heavily on fines and incarceration to punish those who have harmed others. These sanctions fall heaviest on those with the least ability to pay, particularly minoritized groups, leading to a domino effect of harm on individuals, families, and communities. Researchers have long criticized these responses as ineffective at best and, at worst, contributing to greater harm and recidivism. As a result, there have been calls for new approaches to justice.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://evans.uw.edu/profile/karin-martin/">Karin D. Martin</a>, <a href="https://publicpolicy.cornell.edu/people/bryan-sykes/">Bryan L. Sykes</a>, <a href="https://sociology.uga.edu/directory/people/sarah-shannon">Sarah Shannon</a>, <a href="https://rscj.newark.rutgers.edu/people/faculty/dr-frank-edwards/">Frank Edwards</a>, and <a href="https://soc.washington.edu/people/alexes-harris">Alexes Harris</a>. 2004. “<a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-criminol-032317-091915#:~:text=The%20review%20describes%20the%20most,driver's%20license%20suspension%2C%20voting%20restrictions%2C">Monetary Sanctions: Legal Financial Obligations in US Systems of Justice.</a><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/sop.2004.47.3.269?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents">”</a> <em>Annual Review of Criminology</em> 1: 471-495.</li> <li><a href="https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/sociology/faculty/faculty-directory/horowitz-veronica.html">Veronica L. Horowitz</a>, <a href="https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/lars3965">Ryan P. Larson</a>, <a href="https://www.robertstewart.io/about">Robert Stewart</a> & <a href="http://users.soc.umn.edu/~uggen/">Christopher Uggen</a>. 2024. “<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00380253.2024.2333815">Fines, Fees, and Families: Monetary Sanctions As Stigmatized Intergenerational Exchange.</a><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/sop.2004.47.3.269?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents">”</a> The Sociological Quarterly: 1-20.</li> <li><a href="https://crim.sas.upenn.edu/people/charles-loeffler">Charles Loeffler</a> & <a href="https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/faculty-research/profiles/nagin-daniel/">Daniel Nagin</a>. 2022. <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-criminol-030920-112506">The Impact of Incarceration on Recidivism</a>. Annual Review of Criminology, 5, 133-152.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What is Restorative Justice?</strong></h3> <p>Restorative Justice (RJ) is an approach that operates alongside or in lieu of traditional criminal justice, as in school, workplace, and other settings as well. It encompasses a variety of practices, often derived from <strong>Indigenous cultural traditions</strong>, such as the “circle process” and “victim-offender conferencing.” Unlike the standard U.S. system, which views crime as a violation of the law against the government, RJ focuses on the harm caused to relationships. It does this by 1) empowering those harmed and the community to decide how to address the harm and 2) encouraging those responsible to face the affected individuals and take direct accountability, when appropriate.</p> <p>RJ, in its reactive form, a trained facilitator organizes structured meetings between those involved in an incident to address and resolve the harm caused. Proactively, RJ can involve gatherings where people socialize and strengthen relationships – in the absence of a specific incident. Generally, RJ is used reactively and during these meetings three key questions are discussed: 1) What happened? 2) What have the impacts been? and 3) What can be done to make things better?</p> <p>For instance, imagine a parent allowed their child to wait at the bus stop near their home. A neighbor’s German Shepherd, often left unsupervised, starts frequenting the area and one day bites the child. This incident sparks conflict between the dog’s owner and the concerned parent. A typical response might involve fining the dog owner and requiring them to keep the dog confined, which could escalate tensions in the neighborhood between dog lovers and concerned parents.</p> <p>In contrast, a Restorative Justice (RJ) process would bring together the dog owner, the child and their parents, and other concerned neighbors to address the situation. Through open discussions, questions and different perspectives would be explored, allowing all parties to express their concerns and needs. This could lead to creative solutions, such as the dog owner agreeing to better supervision or installing a secure fence, while the community works together to ensure the safety of children at the bus stop by taking turns waiting with the children. Ultimately, this approach could not only resolve the issue but also foster a <strong>stronger sense of trust and cooperation</strong> within the neighborhood.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.ivpress.com/daniel-w-van-ness">Daniel Van Ness</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Heetderks-Strong/author/B00EYMDOF8?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Karen Heetderks</a>, <a href="https://www.pepperdine.edu/alumni/outstanding-alumni/abroad/profiles/jonathan-derby.htm">Jonathan Derby</a>, & <a href="https://restorativejusticeontherise.org/lynette-parker-of-prison-fellowship-international-and-restorative-justice-online/">Lynette Parker</a>. 2022. <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Restoring-Justice-An-Introduction-to-Restorative-Justice/VanNess-HeetderksStrong-Derby-Parker/p/book/9780367740795?srsltid=AfmBOoqWomfehhUf-6gv7YxcTiV4c2xADRNZwb-KUqiS1qHQ27VqGVV7">Restoring justice: An introduction to restorative justice</a>. Routledge.</li> <li><a href="https://zehr-institute.org/staff/howard-zehr/">Howard Zehr</a>. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Restorative-Justice-Books-Peacebuilding/dp/1561483761">The Little Book of Restorative Justice</a>. 2015. Simon and Schuster.</li> <li><a href="https://rjp.d.umn.edu/mark-umbreit">Mark Umbreit</a>.<a href="https://wipfandstock.com/9781666776102/victim-meets-offender/"> Victim Meets Offender: The Impact of Restorative Justice and Mediation</a>. 2023. Wipf and Stock Publishers.</li> <li><a href="https://livingjusticepress.org/edward-c-valandra-phd/">Edward Charles Valandra</a>, ed. <a href="https://livingjusticepress.org/product/colorizing-restorative-justice-2/">Colorizing restorative justice: Voicing our realities</a>. Living Justice Press, 2020.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Does Restorative Justice Work?</strong></h3> <p>For over 40 years, research assessing the effectiveness of RJ has consistently shown it to be a relatively better solution for a range of <strong>minor-to-serious crimes</strong>. First, people who participate in RJ instead of the traditional process (fines and jail) had significantly lower rates of repeating harm. Second, people who were harmed felt RJ was more inclusive to them than the traditional process, and those involved in more serious-incidents experienced <strong>lower rates of PTSD symptoms</strong>. Third and lastly, RJ was <strong>significantly cheaper</strong> than the court process and empowering to communities. Overall, RJ is a well-established, evidence-based practice that is growing a viable response to both property and violent crimes.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Bonta/author/B001JSEFSK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">James Bonta</a>, <a href="https://www.ccsa.ca/rebecca-jesseman-ma">Rebecca Jesseman</a>, <a href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/author/Tanya-Rugge/70673381">Tanya Rugge</a>, <a href="https://ca.linkedin.com/in/robert-cormier-17744837">Robert Cormier</a>. 2005. Restorative Justice and Recidivism. In <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203346822-7/restorative-justice-recidivism-james-bonta-rebecca-jesseman-tanya-rugge-robert-cormier">Handbook of Restorative Justice, pages 108-120.</a> Routledge. </li> <li><a href="https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/People/dr-heather-strang">Heather Strang</a>, <a href="https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/People/professor-lawrence-sherman">Lawrence W Sherman</a>, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gwrtLekAAAAJ&hl=en">Evan Mayo-Wilson</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-woods-35061646">Daniel Woods</a>, and <a href="https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/People/dr-barak-ariel">Barak Ariel</a>. 2013. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.4073/csr.2013.12">Restorative Justice Conferencing (RJC) Using Face-to-Face Meetings of Offenders and Victims: Effects on Offender Recidivism and Victim Satisfaction. A Systematic Review. </a>Campbell Systematic Reviews, 9(1), 1-59.</li> <li><a href="https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/People/professor-lawrence-sherman">Lawrence W Sherman</a>, <a href="https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/People/dr-heather-strang">Heather Strang</a>, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gwrtLekAAAAJ&hl=en">Evan Mayo-Wilson</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-woods-35061646">Daniel Woods</a>, and <a href="https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/People/dr-barak-ariel">Barak Ariel</a>. 2015. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10940-014-9222-9">Are restorative justice conferences effective in reducing repeat offending? Findings from a Campbell systematic review.</a> Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 31, 1-24.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Restorative Justice is Growing.</strong></h3> <p>There has been significant growth and adoption of RJ around the world, with the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, and <strong>over 80 other countries</strong> having formalized laws surrounding the use of RJ for crime. Notably, New Zealand has been a consistent pioneer in incorporating RJ, particularly in its youth justice system, which has influenced practices globally. In North America, RJ programs have gained traction in many states and provinces, often supported by legislative frameworks that encourage their use.</p> <p>As RJ continues to gain recognition and support globally, it offers a promising alternative to traditional justice systems, emphasizing <strong>healing, accountability, and community cohesion</strong> over punishment through fines and incarceration. In doing so, the global RJ movement may ultimately encourage a shift towards more humane and effective ways of addressing harm and achieving true justice. </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julena-Jumbe">Julena Jumbe Gabagambi</a>. 2018. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julena-Jumbe/publication/328288480_A_Comparative_Analysis_of_Restorative_Justice_Practices_in_Africa/links/5bc48774a6fdcc2c91fc417c/A-Comparative-Analysis-of-Restorative-Justice-Practices-in-Africa.pdf">A comparative analysis of restorative justice practices in Africa.</a> Hauser Global Law School Program.</li> <li><a href="https://www.ivpress.com/daniel-w-van-ness">Daniel W. Van Ness</a>. <a href="https://biblioteca.cejamericas.org/bitstream/handle/2015/4767/dan_van_ness_final_paper.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y">“An overview of restorative justice around the world.”</a> (2016).</li> <li><a href="https://www.vermontlaw.edu/directory/person/pali-brunilda">Brunilda Pali</a> & <a href="https://www.kent.ac.uk/social-policy-sociology-social-research/people/3846/maglione-giuseppe">Giuseppe Maglione</a>. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/14773708211013025">Discursive representations of restorative justice in international policies.</a>” <em>European Journal of Criminology</em> 20.2 (2023): 507-527.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/10/02/asian-americans-on-the-corporate-ladder/">Asian Americans on the Corporate Ladder</a></h2> <div class="byline"> Shania Kuo and Eleanor Nickel on October 2, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-mikhail-nilov-9300737-scaled.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-mikhail-nilov-9300737-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3444" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-mikhail-nilov-9300737-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-mikhail-nilov-9300737-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-mikhail-nilov-9300737-600x400.jpg 600w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-mikhail-nilov-9300737-768x512.jpg 768w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-mikhail-nilov-9300737-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/10/pexels-mikhail-nilov-9300737-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure> <p>An empty corporate office meeting room, with the empty, white chairs surrounding a table. <em>Photo by </em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@mikhail-nilov/">Mikhail Nilov</a> from <a href="https://www.pexels.com/">Pexels </a>under<em> </em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/license/"><em>Pexels license</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p>The image of Asian Americans as “model minorities” seems to be ingrained in American culture. Asian Americans are painted as high-achieving minorities who have overcome racial discrimination to reach the same heights as, or even exceed white Americans. This model minority framing, a so-called “positive stereotype,” disguises the discrimination that Asian Americans face within professional employment. How is it that Asian Americans can occupy some of the most desirable jobs but never move up the ranks? The overrepresentation of Asian Americans in fields like <a href="https://www.axios.com/2021/10/16/tech-asian-workers-racism-equity">tech</a>, <a href="https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/portrait-asian-americans-law#:~:text=Asian%20Americans%20comprise%20almost%205%20percent%20of%20lawyers,and%20the%20lowest%20ratio%20of%20partners%20to%20associates.">law</a>, and <a href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-05-06/asian-bias-discrimination-corporate-culture-glass-ceiling">business</a> but <a href="https://hbr.org/2018/05/asian-americans-are-the-least-likely-group-in-the-u-s-to-be-promoted-to-management">underrepresentation in leadership positions</a> represents the paradoxical discrimination of the “bamboo ceiling” that Asian Americans continually bump against.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Limits of Asian American Success</strong></h3> <p>The image of the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/company/stories/the-leadership-representation-ceiling-for-asian-americans/">model minority is double-sided</a>: on the one hand, it upholds Asian Americans as hard-working and model employees; on the other hand, it portrays Asian Americans as meek and subservient. This stereotype, in other words, creates the bamboo ceiling, which is where Asian Americans are perceived as ideal entry-level workers and unable to be creative or assertive in the manner needed for leadership, preventing them from reaching high-ranking positions. </p> <ul> <li>Chin, Margaret. 2020. <em><a href="https://nyupress.org/9781479816811/stuck/">Stuck: Why Asian Americans Don’t Reach the Top of the Corporate Ladder</a></em>. New York, NY: New York University Press.</li> <li>Shao, Di. 2023. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23326492221114809">“Is There a Bamboo Ceiling? The Asian-White Gap in Managerial Attainment for College-Educated Workers.”</a> <em>Sociology of Race and Ethnicity</em> 9(1).</li> <li>Gu, Chien-Juh. 2015. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00380237.2015.997539">“Racial Glass Ceilings, Gendered Responses: Taiwanese American Professionals’ Experiences of Otherness.”</a> <em>Sociological Focus</em> 48(2).</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Navigating the Professional Workplace</strong></h3> <p>In addition to confronting cultural stereotypes that limit their advancement, in spaces that are dominated by white leadership, minoritized people are regularly pressured to “assimilate” or adjust how they display their ethnic and racial identities. <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-model-minority-myth-harms-asian-americans-230815">Some Asian Americans experience microaggressions or being “othered” in the workplace</a>. These might include “being mistaken for other Asian Americans [or] hearing culturally insensitive comments about ethnic names, food, culture, or language” (Huang 2020).</p> <ul> <li>Chow, Tiffany Y. 2023. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11133-022-09527-1">“Privileged but Not in Power: How Asian American Tech Workers Use Racial Strategies to Deflect and Confront Race and Racism.”</a> <em>Qualitative Sociology</em> 46(1).</li> <li>Min, Pyong Gap, and Rose Kim. 2000. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01419870050033702">“Formation of Ethnic and Racial Identities: Narratives by Young Asian-American Professionals.”</a> <em>Ethnic and Racial Studies</em> 23(4).</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Intersections of Gender and Race</strong></h3> <p>However, Asian American workplace discrimination does not only relate to race. Studies interviewing Asian Americans have demonstrated that what Asian Americans navigate is not just racism but how racism interacts with other identities such as gender. For example, some Asian American women receive comments about “looking young”, which influences how seriously they are taken in comparison to their male colleagues. These intersecting identities are not only sources of discrimination, they can be important components of how the workplace shapes Asian American racial and ethnic identities as well.</p> <ul> <li>Huang, Tiffany J. 2021. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369183X.2020.1778455">“Negotiating the Workplace: Second-Generation Asian American Professionals’ Early Experiences.”</a> <em>Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies</em> 47(11).</li> <li>Tinkler, Justine, Jun Zhao, Yan Li, and Cecilia L. Ridgeway. 2019. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2378023119836000">“Honorary Whites? Asian American Women and the Dominance Penalty.”</a> <em>Socius</em> 5.</li> <li>Vo, Tiffanie, Cyrus Schleifer, and Peyman Hekmatpour. 2023. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07311214231177019">“Asian Americans and Income Inequality: Disparities Between and Within Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Groups.”</a> <em>Sociological Perspectives</em> 66(6).</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/05/24/some-memorial-day-sociology/">Some Memorial Day Sociology</a></h2> <div class="byline"> <a href="/trot/author/jake">jake</a> on May 24, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-415767-scaled.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1358" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-415767-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3438" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-415767-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-415767-300x159.jpg 300w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-415767-600x318.jpg 600w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-415767-768x407.jpg 768w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-415767-1536x815.jpg 1536w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-415767-2048x1086.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure> <p><em>A military cemetery. Photo by</em> <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@cottonbro/"></a><em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/">Pixabay</a> under </em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/license/"><em>Pexels license</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/05/23/memorial-day-shout-out-to-the-silent-ranks/">Memorial Day Shout Out to the Silent Ranks</a> from <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/">Sociological Images</a> on Memorial Day and the significance of how the mothers of U.S. service members during the war on terrorism, who, along with other family members, form the “silent ranks” providing crucial homefront support despite the largely gendered expectations and limited recognition they receive.</p> <p><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2020/12/07/shifting-memories-and-meanings-of-pearl-harbor/">Shifting Memories and Meanings of Pearl Harbor</a> by <a href="https://www.jillianlabranche.com/">Jillian LaBranche</a> writes on how iconic events like Pearl Harbor shape American identity and understanding of current events, with collective memories constructed and evolving through social institutions and contemporary interests.</p> <p><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/discoveries/2019/07/24/indirect-effects-of-combat-on-veterans-health/">Indirect Effects of Combat on Veterans’ Health</a> by <a href="https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/noble207">Allison Nobles</a> on research by <a href="https://sociology.sas.upenn.edu/people/jason-schnittker">Jason Schnittker</a>, looking into the new policy on how Veterans Affairs now lets veterans seek non-VA care to reduce long wait times. Research shows veterans’ poor health is more linked to difficulties in civilian life, social relationships, and smoking than direct combat injuries or PTSD, highlighting the need for comprehensive support.</p> <p><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/clippings/2014/11/19/the-marks-of-war/">The Marks of War</a> by <a href="https://pagesmithing.com/">Letta Page</a> covers the work of Jason Deitch, a UC-Berkeley PhD and veteran, who collaborated with the California State Library and others on the “War Ink” project, interviewing tattooed veterans to share their stories and emotions through their tattoos, aiming to bridge the gap between veterans and their communities and reduce their isolation. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/04/30/campus-protests-and-student-activism-some-sociology-perspectives/">Campus Protests and Student Activism: Some Sociology Perspectives</a></h2> <div class="byline"> <a href="/trot/author/jake">jake</a> on April 30, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/pexels-brett-sayles-5242297-scaled.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1703" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/pexels-brett-sayles-5242297-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3430" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/pexels-brett-sayles-5242297-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/pexels-brett-sayles-5242297-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/pexels-brett-sayles-5242297-600x399.jpg 600w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/pexels-brett-sayles-5242297-768x511.jpg 768w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/pexels-brett-sayles-5242297-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/pexels-brett-sayles-5242297-2048x1363.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure> <p><em>A college campus with people protesting and holding signs on the entrance steps. Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@brett-sayles/">Brett Sayles</a> from <a href="https://www.pexels.com/">Pexels</a> under <a href="https://www.pexels.com/license/">Pexels license</a>.</em></p> <p>This week, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/04/30/live-updates-campus-protests" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pro-Palestinian protests are occurring in many U.S. colleges and universities</a> in response to the conflict in the Gaza Strip and surrounding areas. Students supporting Palestinians are <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/college-protests-israel-palestine-war/?id=109734946">building encampments</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/30/pro-palestinian-protesters-take-over-columbia-university-building">occupying buildings</a>, and marching on and off campuses to advocate for a ceasefire, peace, and divestment in Israel’s military. At the same time, other students are reporting <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/student-protesters-denounce-antisemitism-amid-criticism-pro-palestinian/story?id=109643275">continued antisemitic</a> incidents on campuses. As these demonstrations continue and grow, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/04/30/are-we-repeating-mistakes-1960s-opinion">history tells us</a> that increased police presence may lead to more conflict on campuses. In light of these real-time developments, we here at TSP wanted to share a few pieces from us and others on the important role that college campuses and students serve in starting conversations and social change in broader society. </p> <p><strong>First Hand Faculty Experiences on Campus Issues</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/specials/mass-movements-moral-moments/">Mass Movements; Moral Moments</a> by <a href="https://www.history.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/donna-gabaccia">Donna Gabaccia</a> reflects on her first-hand experience as a faculty member during an incident of police abuse in Minneapolis, recalling a distressing scene where a young Black teenager was unjustly detained by police in a library. </li> </ul> <p><strong>Young Adults and Social Structure of Protests</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2018/03/08/when-youth-become-activists/">When Youth Become Activists</a> by <a href="https://sociology.uiowa.edu/people/amber-powell">Amber Joy Powell</a> writes up some research on the nationwide youth-led movement advocating for stricter gun control in 2018, demonstrating the significant impact young activists can have using modern tools like social media to enhance their cause.</li> <li><a href="https://contexts.org/blog/in-brief-close-to-the-issue/">in brief: close to the issue</a> by <a href="https://sociology.ubc.ca/profile/parker-muzzeall/">Parker Muzzerall</a> on how proximity to protests, such as the Occupy Central Movement in Hong Kong, increases support for the movement and shifts political ideologies leftward among nearby residents, despite the disruptions caused.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Challenges of Involving Police</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2017/08/03/political-protest-and-the-call-for-law-and-order/">Political Protest and the Call for Law and Order</a> by <a href="https://sociology.uiowa.edu/people/amber-powell">Amber Joy Powell</a> covers the NRA’s response to progressive political protestors and how political figureheads have historically responded to social instability. </li> <li><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2015/12/02/mizzou-and-millennial-tolerance-for-shutting-down-free-speech/">Mizzou and Millennial tolerance for shutting down free speech</a> by <a href="http://lisa-wade.com/">Lisa Wade</a> coverage of the 2015 surge of student activism on issues of racism and changes on funding and resignations, while sparking debates about free speech and highlighting trends showing that Millennials are increasingly supportive of government censorship of speech offensive to minorities.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Public Opinion and Tolerance (or lack of) on Campus Protests and Academic Freedom in Sociology</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/03/28/curriculum-culture-wars-and-sociology-in-the-classroom/">Curriculum, Culture Wars, and Sociology in the Classroom</a> by <a href="https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/lovet041">Forrest Lovette</a> and <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/people/john-purnell/">John Purnell</a> respond to the recent attacks on the discipline in Florida, covering the value of sociology, free speech/academic freedom, and anti-intellectualism in American culture.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper post"> <div class='content-post'> <div class='post-meta'> <h2><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/04/17/war-on-women-on-the-web/">War on Women on the Web</a></h2> <div class="byline"> Caroline Garland and S Ericson on April 17, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="post-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/resume-genius-jKvmjImY9bE-unsplash-scaled.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="" data-rl_caption="" title=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/resume-genius-jKvmjImY9bE-unsplash-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3422" srcset="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/resume-genius-jKvmjImY9bE-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/resume-genius-jKvmjImY9bE-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/resume-genius-jKvmjImY9bE-unsplash-600x400.jpg 600w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/resume-genius-jKvmjImY9bE-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/resume-genius-jKvmjImY9bE-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://thesocietypages.org/trot/files/2024/04/resume-genius-jKvmjImY9bE-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure> <p>Two women sitting side-by-side with laptops in front of them, glancing at each other after reading something shocking. <em>Photo by </em><a href="https://unsplash.com/@resumegenius">Resume Genius</a> from <a href="https://unsplash.com/">Upsplash</a>.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Intro and History</h3> <p>Several subcultures exist online dedicated to hating women, collectively known as the “manosphere.” These communities hold different perspectives on how they should operate in society based on their shared <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/14/the-red-pill-reddit-modern-misogyny-manosphere-men">belief in the Red Pill</a>, the belief that we live in a <a href="https://sociologydictionary.org/gynocracy/#:~:text=Definition%20of%20Gynocracy-,Definitions%20of%20Gynocracy,that%20is%20controlled%20by%20women.">“Gynocracy”</a> (a society dominated by women that discriminates against men).</p> <p>Some of these subcultures focus on trying to “prove” their negative views of women by presenting themselves as scientifically knowledgeable. Others focus on more explicitly bigoted and violent language. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/incel">“Incels”</a> believe that they are involuntarily celibate thanks to societal injustice. Another manosphere group, <a href="https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/men-going-their-own-way-mgtow-what-you-need-know">“Men Going Their Own Way”</a> (MGTOW), takes a different approach to women and tries to avoid women and female institutions altogether.</p> <ul> <li>Ann-Kathrin Rothermel. 2023. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517221145671">The Role of Evidence-Based Misogyny in Antifeminist Online Communities of the ‘Manosphere.’</a>” <em>Big Data & Society</em> 10(1)</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Stephane Baele, Lewys Brace, and Debbie Ging. 2023. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2022.2161373">A Diachronic Cross-Platforms Analysis of Violent Extremist Language in the Incel Online Ecosystem</a>.” <em>Terrorism and Political Violence</em> 1–24.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Scott Wright, Verity Trott, and Callum Jones. 2020. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118x.2020.1751867">‘The Pussy Ain’t Worth It, Bro’: Assessing the Discourse and Structure of MGTOW</a>.” <em>Information, Communication & Society</em> 23(6):908–25.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Politics and Culture</h3> <p>While many online misogynists solely focus on hating women, others have become more broadly political. For example, many members of the manosphere backed Donald Trump for the US presidency. However, at times, members of the manosphere have come into conflict with other right-wing extremists. Some white nationalists, for instance, believe they should “protect” white women, while manosphere members are often more explicitly hateful towards white women.</p> <ul> <li>Pierce Alexander Dignam and Deana A. Rohlinger. 2019. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/701155">Misogynistic Men Online: How the Red Pill Helped Elect Trump</a>.” <em>Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society</em> 44(3):589–612.</li> <li>Jillian Sunderland. 2023. “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X221120664">Fighting for Masculine Hegemony: Contestation between Alt-Right and White Nationalist Masculinities on Stormfront</a>.” <em>Men and Masculinities</em> 26(1):3–23.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <nav class='pagination'> <ul class="pagination"> <li class='disabled'> <a href="#" aria-label="Previous" onclick="javascript:void(0);return false;"> <span aria-hidden="true">«</span> </a> </li> <li class='active'> <span class="page-number page-numbers current">1</span> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/2" class="page-number page-numbers">2</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/3" class="page-number page-numbers">3</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/4" class="page-number page-numbers">4</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/5" class="page-number page-numbers">5</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/6" class="page-number page-numbers">6</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/7" class="page-number page-numbers">7</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/8" class="page-number page-numbers">8</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/9" class="page-number page-numbers">9</a> </li> <li class='disabled'> <span class="dots">…</span> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/45" class="page-number page-numbers">45</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/page/2" aria-label="Next" > <span aria-hidden="true">»</span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="sidebar"> <ul> <li id="about-widget" class="widget"><h3 class="widget_title">About There's Research on That</h3><p>Offering up great research from across the social sciences that speaks to the big events of the day.</p></li> <li id="recent-posts-2" class="widget-container widget_recent_entries"> <h3 class="widget_title">Recent Posts</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2025/04/01/the-american-journal-of-unfinished-sociology/">The American Journal of Unfinished Sociology</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2025/03/06/social-isolation-and-loneliness-of-young-adults/">Social Isolation and “Loneliness” of Young Adults</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/12/30/best-of-2024-curriculum-culture-wars-and-sociology-in-the-classroombest-of-2024/">Best of 2024: Curriculum, Culture Wars, and Sociology in the Classroom</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/11/05/humor-and-memes-in-politics/">Humor and Memes in Politics</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/10/30/what-they-dont-want-you-to-know-about-conspiracy-theories/">What “They” Don’t Want You to Know About Conspiracy Theories</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/10/24/restorative-justice/">Restorative Justice</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/10/02/asian-americans-on-the-corporate-ladder/">Asian Americans on the Corporate Ladder</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/05/24/some-memorial-day-sociology/">Some Memorial Day Sociology</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/04/30/campus-protests-and-student-activism-some-sociology-perspectives/">Campus Protests and Student Activism: Some Sociology Perspectives</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/trot/2024/04/17/war-on-women-on-the-web/">War on Women on the Web</a> </li> </ul> </li><li id="categories-2" class="widget-container widget_categories"><h3 class="widget_title">#TROTs by Topic</h3><form action="https://thesocietypages.org/trot" method="get"><label class="screen-reader-text" for="cat">#TROTs by Topic</label><select name='cat' id='cat' class='postform'> <option value='-1'>Select Category</option> <option class="level-0" value="124">crime</option> <option class="level-0" value="15">culture</option> <option class="level-0" value="55">gender</option> <option class="level-0" value="33">health</option> <option class="level-0" value="13">inequality</option> <option class="level-0" value="85">politics</option> <option class="level-0" value="14">race</option> <option class="level-0" value="1">Uncategorized</option> </select> </form><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function() { var dropdown = document.getElementById( "cat" ); 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