Contexts

sociology for the public

In Brief

News and notes.

The Lone Wolf Terrorist

Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnev, the brothers who are suspected of detonating two bombs during the Boston Marathon last year, killing three individuals and injuring countless … Read More

The New Workplayce

Corey FieldsDoes all work and no play really make Jack a dull boy? In a 2006 TED talk, education … Read More

Fashioning Flawlessness

Amanda LanzoneDuring New York’s Fashion Week last September, patients of plastic surgeon Ramtin Kassir sashayed down the runway to … Read More

Kidneys and Kin

While organ donation systems in the United States are designed to be efficient and equitable, distributing organs harvested from recently deceased individuals to those who … Read More

Opera’s Last Act

Sam GrinbergThe 70-year-old New York City Opera has joined a growing chorus of operas, orchestras, and ballet companies in … Read More

The Feminization of Foreclosure

During the Great Recession that began in 2007, news reports portrayed housing foreclosure as an equal opportunity crisis, overlooking the fact that women—especially women of … Read More

#onstrike

When low-wage workers from over 50 cities across the United States took to the streets last August to demand … Read More

Defensive Doping

When asked about using banned substances to maintain his winning record, champion cyclist Lance Armstrong said it was “part of the job”—like having “air in … Read More

The New (Gay Male) Normal

Amanda LanzoneNBC’s now-defunct sitcom The New Normal featured a happy gay couple living in Los Angeles, and their efforts … Read More

Second Life’s Second Life

©2013 Linden Lab Experts have voiced concerns about digital addiction and social isolation among online gaming enthusiasts. But virtual … Read More