Challenging Columbus Day
More and more states are choosing not to honor Columbus Day celebrations. We look back at the history of the holiday.
How and Why Public Opinion on the Death Penalty Changed
A look at the American public's ambivalent opinion of the death penalty.
“Victim Culture” and Victim Blaming
The critique of contemporary "victim culture" has parallels to the critique of "victim feminism" of the 1990s.
How Reforms to Rape Law Changed Our Understanding of the Crime
Reforms to rape law in the 1970s and 1980s transformed the definition of rape and brought the crime out of the shadows.
Did You Hear the Joke about the Lawyer?
Why lawyer jokes typically involve the killing or maiming of lawyers.
Cashing In on the Afro
The Afro became a big money maker as it became more popular. Did that transformation rob the style of its political meaning?
Gender Roles in Early Parenthood
Parenting roles have changed enormously over a generation, but gender roles are still being propped up in some ways.
What Gay Marriage Looked Like in the ’70s
In 1979, sociologist Joseph Harry took a look at what that era's marriage-like relationships between gay men were like.
Heat Waves: 20 Years After Chicago
Two articles look at the sociological impact of the 1995 heat wave in Chicago, which killed 700 people.