Sociology

Iranian woman push back against compulsory hijab

Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet of the School of Arts & Sciences says that Iranian society still struggles with how much of a role religion has played in its pre- and post-revolutionary eras.

The truth about the history education wars in 2022

Jonathan Zimmerman of the Graduate School of Education writes that political battles over education have secularized, shifting focus from religion to American history and identity.

Philly students talk about ending gun violence

A study by Eugenia South of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues shows that low-income Philadelphia neighborhoods which received city-funded housing repairs saw a 21% reduction in crime.

Female whistleblowers face more retaliation—here’s how to avoid it, according to a new study

A study by Nancy Rothbard of the Wharton School finds that women at all levels of power are far more likely than men to face retaliation when speaking up about moral infractions.

In Philly’s DHS crisis, a bleak reminder of how America treats its most vulnerable children

PIK Professor Dorothy E. Roberts calls for dismantling America’s child welfare system, arguing that it largely punishes Black families for being poor.

Q&A

Young, Gifted, and Diverse: Camille Z. Charles on Black identity

In a new book, sociologist Camille Z. Charles explores the multifaceted identities of Black college students.

The Pentagon established an office to track UFOs. What could we learn?

Kate Dorsch of the School of Arts & Sciences clarifies how UFOs and UAPs are classified and delves into the scarcity of knowledge gleaned from their potential sightings by the military.

A crowd of people gathered, one holds a sign that reads ABORTION IS ESSENTIAL.

Q&A

Dorothy Roberts on the future of abortion advocacy

Dorothy Roberts speaks with Penn Today on the implications of the Dobbs decision, which struck down Roe v. Wade, leaving many states with no legal right to abortion.

A person tearing up in a crowd of people. The person, who is holding a green bandana, wears a shirt that says "We Won't Back Down." Other people hold up signs in the crowd, including "Keep Abortion Legal."

Overturning Roe disproportionately burdens marginalized groups

For low-income people and people of color, lack of access to safe abortions in the U.S. will have a range of health and financial ramifications, compounding factors like poverty and systemic racism.

How historical racism influences modern poverty and racial inequality

Sociologist Regina Baker finds that Black people in southern U.S. states with significant institutionalized historical racial practices experience worse poverty today. These states also have a wider poverty gap between Black and white populations.

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