Sociology Notebook

In "How Sexism in Institutions and Everyday Interactions Shapes Early Childbearing", Jessica Houston Su and Kelly Musick explore how structural and interactional sexism influence early childbearing, particularly among young women. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, they examine how institutional sexism—measured through economic, cultural, and reproductive health factors at state and county levels—and peer-driven interactional sexism impact adolescent women’s likelihood of early childbearing. Their findings reveal that institutional sexism is a key predictor for early childbearing among Black adolescents, while peer-based interactional sexism influences early childbearing across groups, underscoring how systemic and social inequalities shape family outcomes.Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1177/00031224241291602#EarlyChildbearing #GenderInequality #StructuralSexism #InteractionalSexism #FamilyStudies

In "Flexible Austerity", the author examines how resource shortages can exacerbate inequalities within organizations, specifically focusing on racialized disparities in healthcare. Through an ethnographic study in an urban academic hospital during a nationwide IV opioid shortage, Brewer introduces "flexible austerity"—a practice where decision-makers adjust resource allocation standards based on racial biases, often under the guise of neutrality. Findings reveal that Black patients were deemed "undeserving" of resources at a higher rate, especially during shortages, while White patients received more lenient allocation. This study sheds light on how organizational processes and resource scarcity can intensify structural inequalities.Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1177/00031224241282307#HealthcareInequality #FlexibleAusterity #RacialDisparities #MedicalSociology #ResourceAllocation #AmericanSociologicalReview #organizations #inequality #race #medical #sociology #opioids

In "Reiterated Fact-Making," Daniel Navon delves into the evolving nature of scientific facts, especially in genetics and neurodevelopment. Using a framework called "reiterated fact-making," Navon examines how certain scientific facts about genetic variants—like XYY, Fragile X, and the 22q11.2 microdeletion—have shifted in meaning and application over time due to changing social, scientific, and clinical contexts. Through a comparative-historical approach, the study reveals how these genetic facts are influenced by networks of expertise, societal mobilization, and historical dependencies, blending both stability and transformation in scientific knowledge.Read the full article:https://doi.org/10.1177/00031224241271100#ScientificFacts #GeneticVariants #Neurodevelopment #ScienceAndSociety #ScienceStudies

In this first episode of Sociology Notebook, we unpack Peyman Hekmatpour's research article, "World Society, Cultural Diversity, and Gender Gap in Political Empowerment," published in Comparative Sociology. This cross-national analysis examines how global cultural diversity and societal structures influence gender equality in political power. Join us to discuss key factors like religion, world culture, and social norms shaping gender-based political empowerment.Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1163/15691330-bja10114#GenderEquality #PoliticalEmpowerment #CulturalDiversity #ComparativeSociology #WorldSociety #SocialSciences