Statue of Lady Justice holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other

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.
Man with wind up knob

Did You Hear the Joke about the Lawyer?

Why lawyer jokes typically involve the killing or maiming of lawyers.
Close-up of a woman with natural hair

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?
A father kisses his toddler on the cheek

Gender Roles in Early Parenthood

Parenting roles have changed enormously over a generation, but gender roles are still being propped up in some ways.
Homeless person with blank cardboard

Panhandling and Other Jobs

A ban on panhandling simply ignores the issues behind the practice.
Two suited partners exchanging rings

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.
Close up of a petition for divorce with pen and calculator

Divorce in the U.S.A.

A glimpse into the long history of divorce in the United States offers perspective on how much has changed.
Happy couple walking while guests throwing confetti on them during wedding ceremony. Horizontal shot.

Is Marriage a Solution to Poverty?

Is marriage a solution to poverty?
Egyptian hieroglyphs

Tax Day in Ancient Egypt

A newly-analyzed papyrus fragment from Ancient Egypt revealed a truly whopping tax bill