Happening Sunday, August 21st

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Williams, Sociology Department Chairperson and this year’s Sociologist for Women in Society Feminist Lecturer Award! Christine will be honored this evening at ASA.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello at the Department Alumni Night event last night! It was great to see some unexpected visitors and swap ASA stories. We will be bringing back some good ideas, so not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Sunday August 21st UTSOC Presentations and Roundtables

Augustine, Jennifer March
Section on Children and Youth
Table 05. Getting and Being Married
Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm Session Submission Role:Table Presider

Bylander, Maryann
Regular Session. International Migration
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 8:30am – 10:10am
Session Submission Role: Presider

Danielle Dirks (PhD 2011, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Occidental College)
Regular Session. Law and Society
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 2:30pm – 4:10pm
Non-Presenter: “Tooled for Capacity: Subverting Justice for Juveniles in Texas’ Municipal Courts”
Student Forum Advisory Panel
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 10:30am – 12:10pm

Hamrock, Caitlin
Table 10. Achieved and Ascribed Characteristics at Work
Unit: Section on Organizations, Occupation, and Work Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 10:30am – 11:30am
Presenter: “The Relationship Between Field of Degree and Field of Occupation: Does Education Socialize or Signal?”

Hayward, Mark D
Regular Session. Health and Well-Being
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 10:30am – 12:10pm
Non-Presenter: Race/Ethnic Differences in Health among Children Who Live with Parents or Grandparents, U.S. 1972-2009.

Hofmann, Erin
Regular Session. International Migration
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 8:30am – 10:10am
Presenter: “Global Changes and Gendered Responses: The feminization of migration from Georgia”

Hummer, Robert A
Regular Session. Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Population Processes in the United States
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 2:30pm – 4:10pm
Non-Presenter: “Temporal Changes in Self-Rated Health: APC Models of Racial Disparities”

Kendig, Sarah M
Table 03. Intra-Familial Investments Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm Table Presider

Kuo, Janet
Table 06. Parenting Section on the Sociology of the Family /Roundtables
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Presenter: “Causal Effects of Father Involvement on Childrens’ Psychological Well-being in Two Biological-Parent Families in Taiwan”

Manglos, Nicolette Denise
Section on Sociology of Religion Paper Session. Comparative Religions at Home and Abroad
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 12:30pm – 2:10pm
Presenter: “Thresholds of Trust: Dynamics of Ethno-Religious Incorporation for Today’s Ghanaian Migrants”
Table 11. Religion and Political Action
Unit: Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 8:30am – 9:30am
Presenter on individual submission: “Religion and Political Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa”

Paredes, Cristian Luis
Table 17. Global Ethnicity
Unit: Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Presenter on individual submission: “The Structuring Effects of Racial Agency in Peru”

Pieper, Christopher
Table 12. Religion and Social Action
Sub Unit: Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 8:30am – 9:30am
Presenter: “What Would Jesus Protest?: A Map of Progressive and Conservative Christian Movement Dynamics, 1960-2000″

Regnerus, Mark D.
Thematic Session. The Cultural War and Red/Blue Divide: Re-examining the Debate Demographically and Behaviorally – Panelist
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 10:30am – 12:10pm

Robinson, Brandon Andrew – Brandon is a member of our Fall 2011 graduate cohort
Table 05. Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Unit: Section on Sociology of Sexualities Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Presenter: “This is What Equality Looks Like? How Dutch LGBT Assimilation Marginalizes Gender Non-Conformists”

Rountree, Meredith
Regular Session. Law and Society
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 2:30pm – 4:10pm
Presenter: “I’ll Make Them Shoot Me: Accounts of Death Row Prisoners Advocating for Execution”

Stephan, Rita
Section on Peace, War, and Social Conflict Paper Session. Women and Peacebuilding
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 2:30pm – 4:10pm
Session Submission Role: Presider

Williams, Christine L.
Section on Organizations, Occupations, and Work Business Meeting
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 11:30am – 12:10pm
Session Submission Role: Participant

Yu, Wei-hsin
Section on Organizations, Occupation, and Work Paper Session. The New World of Work
Scheduled Time: Sun, Aug 21 – 12:30pm – 2:10pm
Presenter: “Better Off Jobless? Scar Effect of Contingent Employment in Japan”

Saturday ASA events

Happening Today:

Department Alumni Night from 9:30 -11:30 in the Augustus I & II, Emperor’s level of Caesar’s Palace

Saturday, August 20th UT SOC presentations:

Brown, Dustin C
Regular Session. Health Issues in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Studies
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 10:30am – 12:10pm
Presenter on individual submission: “Same-Sex Cohabitation and Self-Rated Health”

Charrad, Mounira Maya
Regular Session. Middle East and Muslim Societies
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 8:30am – 10:10am
Non-Presenter: “The Moroccan Gentle Revolution: Women’s Activism and 2004 Reforms of Islamic Law”
Section on Comparative/Historical Sociology Paper Session. Islam and the Modern World

Chen, Wenhong
Table 19. The Impact of Modern Technology – Refereed Roundtables.
Unit / Sub Unit: Section on Community and Urban Sociology
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 8:30am – 10:10am
Presenter: “The Social Capital Effects: Embedded Resources, Tie Strength, and the Digital Divides”

Ebot, Jane Ofundem
Table 02. Causes and Consequences of Health for Children
Unit / Sub Unit: Section on Sociology of Population Refereed Roundtable.
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Presenter: “There’s No Place Like Home: Urban-rural Differentials in Nutritional Status among Children in Ethiopia”

Frederick, Angela
Regular Session. Narrative, Biography, and Culture
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 8:30am – 10:10am
Presenter: “Bringing Narrative In: Storytelling, Political Ambition, and Womens’ Paths to Public Office”

Henderson, Andrea
Regular Session. Religion
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 8:30am – 10:10am
Presenter: “Race-based Discrimination, Religious Involvement and Mental Health among Black Americans”

Hopkins, Kristine
Regular Session. Immigrant Communities/Families II: Family Dynamics and Parenting
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 2:30pm – 4:10pm
Non-Presenter: “Acculturation and Parent-Teen Communication about Sex among Mexican-origin Families”

Lariscy, Joseph Tyler
Regular Session. Immigrant Communities/Families II: Family Dynamics and Parenting
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 2:30pm – 4:10pm
Presenter: “Acculturation and Parent-Teen Communication about Sex among Mexican-origin Families”

Masters, Ryan Kelly
Table 03. Theory and Political Ideology
Unit: Student Forum Session
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 10:30am – 12:10pm
Session Submission Role: Table Presider

Paxton, Pamela
Table 12. Gender and Politics
Unit: Section on Political Sociology Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Non-Presenter: “Criminal Violence, Political Resources, and Women’s Political Victories”
Table 13. Civil Discourse and Civic Engagement
Unit: Section on Political Sociology Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Presenter: “Checkbooks in the Heartland: Change Over Time in Voluntary Association Membership”

Reczek, Corinne E.
Regular Session. Health Issues in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Studies
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 10:30am – 12:10pm
Presenter: Same-Sex Cohabitation and Self-Rated Health
Section on Medical Sociology Paper Session. Mechanisms of Health: Qualitative and Quantitative Perspectives
Scheduled Time: Tue, Aug 23 – 12:30pm – 2:10pm
Presenter: “The Promotion of Unhealthy Habits in Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Intimate Partnerships”

Shifrer, Dara
Regular Session. Disability and Social Life
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 8:30am – 10:10am
Presenter: “Social Influences on the Attitudes and Behaviors of High School Students Identified with LD”
Section on Sociology of Education Paper Session. Exploring Racial-Ethnic Inequalities from Kindergarten to College

Shaw, Vivian
Table 02. Gender and Culture
Unit: Student Forum Sessions
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 10:30am – 12:10pm
Session Submission Role: Table Presider

Stephan, Rita
Regular Session. Middle East and Muslim Societies
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 8:30am – 10:10am
Presenter : “The Moroccan Gentle Revolution:Women’s Activism and 2004 Reforms of Islamic Law”

Stroud, Angela R.
Table 05. Gender and Violence
Unit: Section on Sex and Gender Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Presenter on individual submission: “Gender, Violence and Concealed Handgun Licensing”

Young, Michael
Regular Session. Religion II
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 2:30pm – 4:10pm
Presenter: “Rebellion and Breakthrough: Evangelical Disruptions, Social Movements, and the Transformation of American Values”

Zarrugh, Amina
Table 05. Gender and Violence
Unit: Section on Sex and Gender Roundtable
Scheduled Time: Sat, Aug 20 – 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Presenter: “Revenge of the Virtuous Women”: Framing of Gender and Violence in Palestinian Militant Organizations”

Dr. James Gundlach: “Tackling Auburn Football: Losing by Winning and Winning by Losing”

Dr. James Gundlach’s talk “Tackling Auburn Football: Losing by Winning and Winning by Losing” on Tuesday, July 5th offered those in attendance a view into the life of a man who started life on a drought-ridden farm in Southwestern Oklahoma, meandered through the Korean War into the University of Oklahoma and to UT Austin and who currently resides an old plantation outside of Auburn, Alabama. Against all odds, James Gundlach overcame a childhood of moonshining and near starvation to become an award winning professor of Demography at Auburn University. As he spoke, I was reminded of scenes from the movie “Winter’s Bone,” the story of a teenage girl’s struggle to provide for her family in impoverished, rural Missouri. Alternately tragic, entertaining and morally uplifting, Dr. Gundlach’s Sociological eye stood him in good stead as he faced enough adversity to fill several novels. Audience members encouraged him to write a memoire, a very good idea.

Standing up to powerful university interests who supported the use of directed reading courses as substitutes for real Sociology classes, Dr Gundlach was the main informant in the New York Times expose on the use of these substitute courses to elevate athletic GPAs. The eventual elimination of these courses came only after his early retirement and with much effort on his part. But this is only one of many stories with which James Gundlach regaled the room, among them: his research into the effect of Country music on suicide, his efforts to rehabilitate teenagers who were living on the street and how he became a Sociologist.

One of the humorous anecdotes began in high school when he described taking typing classes to meet girls. His proficiency landed him in an administrative position in the army rather than the demolition technician job he requested to ensure his enlistment. Through the influence of his well-educated roommates, he started using the library to check out books, his first: Das Kapital which started his love affair with Sociology. Soon, with their help and hours of discussion, his reading list included the Modern Library’s top 100 influential books of the 20th Century. James attended Oklahoma University on the GI Bill, completing his undergraduate degree in Sociology and transferring to the University of Texas at Austin to work under Dr. Frank Bean on a doctoral degree in Demography. Accepting a teaching position at Auburn University in his fourth year, he and his family moved to Alabama, where his work in statistics helped to change the way courses were delivered and assessed. Dr. Gundlach’s goal in teaching statistics and methods was to take the fear out of learning, opening reluctant minds to a new Sociological perspective. He and his family continue to reside on the plantation in Auburn, where we hope to hear that he is writing his autobiography for a new Ken Burns documentary. James Gundlach’s life is certainly the stuff of great novels.

UT Austin SOC – ASA Issue

Welcome to the new Sociology graduate program blog.  Our inaugural issue highlights UT Austin research being presented at the 2011 American Sociology Association’s annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.  We will be blogging and tweeting from the corridors of Caesar’s Palace, mixing business with pleasure, watching how “what starts here, changes the world.”

Call for submissions! Bloggers and tweeters needed.

UT Grad Sociology Facebook page

Our website: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/sociology/

Congratulations to Yuka Minagawa!

Yuka Minagawa was recently awarded the Honjo International Scholarship from the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation. The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation was created to strengthen academic partnerships between Japan and other countries. Yuka’s selection in this very intense competition was based on her outstanding record of academic achievement to date and her scholarly promise. Yuka specializes in the sociology of health, with a particular emphasis on Russia and eastern Europe. She holds a masters degree in Russian Studies from Harvard University and is working toward her Ph.D. in Sociology here at the University of Texas at Austin. Her scholarship was awarded for two years, beginning September 2011.

Kudos to Christine Wheatley, elected as the next student representative to the council of the International Migration Section of ASA!

Sociology Brownbag
Tuesday, July 5th 11:30 – 1:00 In BUR 214

Tackling Auburn Football: Losing by Winning and Winning by Losing
Dr. James Gundlach

Dr. Gundlach, earned his PhD in Sociology at UT in 1976 and was a Sociology faculty member in the Auburn Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminology from 1974 to 2001. During that time he worked his way up from Instructor to Full Professor and Director of Sociology. Dr Gundlach ended his career at Auburn by challenging the offering of sociology classes in directed reading format to Auburn athletes by a Criminology professor in a way that gave them A’s for doing almost no work and learning no sociology.

In this informal presentation Dr. Gundlach will first describe how he became a UT PhD and got his job at a university that marginalized the social sciences (note the department’s name). He will then describe how he ended his career by tackling Auburn’s abuse of Sociology to help Auburn win this year’s national football championship

New York Times Article: Auburn Ousts 2, but Doesn’t Fault Athletics

Graduate Sociology Blog