identity Archives - Society Today

Gone But Not Forgotten: William James

William James, who died on this date (August 26) in 1910, was a towering figure in American intellectual history, whose influence spanned multiple disciplines, including psychology, philosophy, and even religious…

Criminology, Gone But Not Forgotten

Gone But Not Forgotten: Howard Becker

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

Howard Becker, who died on this date (August 16) in 2023, was a pivotal figure in sociology who profoundly shaped our understanding of deviance, subcultures, and the dynamics of social…

LGBTQIA2S+

Supporting Transitions: Insights from a Study on Trans Youth

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

A new study shows that affirmative approaches to supporting trans children—validating their gender identity through social transitions—significantly improve their mental health and well-being. The research highlights the crucial role of…

Culture

Why Some Acts of Cultural Borrowing Spark Outrage: Insights from a New Study

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

Acts of cultural boundary-crossing evoke significant disapproval when perceived as disrespectful or exploiting the target culture, especially when done by individuals of higher socioeconomic status. The concept of "cultural tariffing"…

Criminology

From Extremist to Ex-Extremist: The Journey of Leaving Domestic Terrorism

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

The FBI has seen a 357% increase in domestic violent extremism cases from 2013 to 2021, highlighting the growing threat of domestic terrorism. Domestic violent extremists have diverse motivations, which…

Disability, Fundamentals, Gender/Family, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S+, Race/Ethnicity

How Many Types of Privilege Are There?

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

In sociology, privilege is the array of unearned benefits or advantages bestowed on individuals due to their membership in a social group. Because of the multiple and varied ways privileges…

Indigenous, Movements, Race/Ethnicity

In the Shadow of the Border: The Untold Struggles of Mexican Americans

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

Mexican Americans near the Arizona-Mexico border must live in a "low-intensity conflict zone" in which several of their constitutional rights are effectively suspended. Through frequent, arbitrary interactions with Customs and…

Human Rights

How Bad Was Life in Gaza Before Hamas Attacked?

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

Gaza has been blockaded by Israel and Egypt since 2007, with over 2 million Palestinians living with a lack of clean water, inadequate food, overstretched health services, and one of…

Fundamentals, Movements

The Potential for Progress: Can We Truly Alter Society’s Course?

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

Absolutely, yes. But we need to be much smarter and better organized. Introduction Many millions more people would get involved in activism and social justice work if they knew we…

Culture, Fundamentals

What Would Sociology’s Founder Say About 2024’s Culture Wars?

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

Today's culture wars have their roots in conflicts between industrial and pre-industrial ways of life. Emile Durkheim, a founder of modern sociology, referred to them as organic solidarity and mechanical…