Sociology

Philadelphia Inquirer

Penn law professor Dorothy E. Roberts named a MacArthur Fellow

PIK Professor Dorothy Roberts has received the “genius grant” for her efforts to expose racism embedded in social-support programs, such as the child welfare system.

A person wearing a backpack outside a university building.

From college community to career path

Joyce Kim, an advanced doctoral student in sociology and education, wants to know what motivates undergraduates—especially those who are the first in their families to attend college—to choose the career trajectories that they do.

New Republic

The bad politics of bad posture

In her book “Slouch,” Beth Linker of the School of Arts & Sciences outlines how societal pressures have driven huge swaths of people to embrace falsehoods about posture.

Rainwater harvesting in Mexico City

Rising fourth-year Krishna Chandrasekhara spent three weeks in Mexico this summer as part of a project exploring the impact of water collection on public and community health.

USA Today

The ACT’s new ties to a private equity firm are raising eyebrows

Benjamin Shestakofsky of the School of Arts & Sciences says it is not surprising that private equity firms are setting their sights on the standardized testing market.

Stat

HHS considering changes to sterilization consent process

PIK Professor Dorothy Roberts says there’s widespread devaluing of certain people’s childbearing from negative stereotypes to laws that deny someone extra benefits if they get pregnant while on welfare.

The New York Times

Harrison White, groundbreaking (and inscrutable) sociologist, dies at 94

Randall Collins of the School of Arts & Sciences and PIK Professor Duncan J. Watts discuss the career of the late Harrison White, a theoretical physicist-turned-sociologist.

Politifact

Fact-checking Byron Donalds’ ‘Jim Crow’ comments on Black families, conservatism

PIK Professor Dorothy E. Roberts and Kathleen M. Brown and Mary Frances Berry of the School of Arts & Sciences comment on Rep. Byron Donalds’ comparison of modern Black culture to the Jim Crow era.

Taussia Boadi and Cheryl Nnadi pose on Penn's campus in front of College Hall, green grass and a huge tree.

Positioned for Success

The program, launched by recent College of Arts and Sciences grads Taussia Boadi and Cheryl Nnadi, was a 2023 Projects for Progress winner and provides academic support to middle school students affected by gun violence.

A teenager with headphones slouching over their phone.

Beth Linker’s new book explores the science of posture

A new book from history and sociology of science professor Beth Linker investigates how and why a panic around posture emerged in America in the 20th century.

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