Overview
I study inequality, how it changes over time, and why it persists through social change in the United States and around the world. Most of my research focuses on gender inequality alongside other dimensions of social inequality including sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and class.
Unequal social relations and structures can be maintained through force or ideological legitimation. I focus on legitimation. More precisely, I examine factors such as religion that ostensibly compensate for inequality—by providing social, psychological, and/or material benefits to subordinated groups—but can paradoxically end up legitimating and reinforcing it.
Although legitimation is my focus, I take a broad view of the study of inequality and social change, examining various factors that limit or facilitate opportunity, well-being, and intergroup relations.
For more information about my research and publications, please see my personal website.
Research
- Inequality
- Gender
- Sexualities
- Religion
- Public Opinion
- Social Change
Publications
- View publications here
In the news
- Catholic charter school matter ‘raises profound questions about equal access’
- If parents can opt out of LGBTQ themes, can others opt out of traditional ones?
- Death of Pope Francis marks end of historic papacy
- DIY religion: More Americans finding faith outside church
- Student spotlight: Katherine Ally Zaslavsky
- Florida ruling ‘deviates from the more moderate views’ held by most Americans
- France’s abortion rights vote sets potential ‘worldwide precedent’
- Cornell expert on same-sex marriage in Greece vote
- LGBTQ Catholics in a state of ‘conditional belonging’
- Sociologist honored with early career award
- Christian doctrine barely veiled in leaked SCOTUS opinion
- Girls raised by Jewish parents more likely to graduate college
- Women want to work, despite workforce precarity
- Center for Social Sciences awards 2022-23 Faculty Fellowships
- More Americans than usual have been changing parties. Why?
- Center for Social Sciences awards fall ’21 grants