Trends
Using data to help readers gain a new perspective on our world.
Beyond Sectarianism in Iraq
During eight years of a U.S.-led occupation, Iraqi attitudes have shifted away from sectarianism and toward a national identity. Coupled with increased support for the separation of politics and religion, this shift may pave the road for a functioning national government. Read MoreKorean Multiculturalism and the Marriage Squeeze
An imbalanced sex ratio in the 1970s and 1980s has led South Korean men to seek wives abroad. Though a solution to one problem, this spike in interracial marriage has posed new social conundrums for the formerly homogenous society. Read MoreThe Vanishing Catholic Priest
Brian Conway examines the decline in vocations in Ireland and the U.S., and considers what it means for the future of international Catholicism. Read MoreA 21st Century Gender Revolution
The 20th century saw women take the workplace by storm. Now, the revolution has reached higher education, as women outpace men in college graduation and continue to narrow the gap in professional degrees. Read MoreGladwell’s Big Kid Bias?
A closer look at Malcolm Gladwell’s “iron law of Canadian Hockey” reveals that birthday cut-offs in pee-wee leagues do not, in fact, predict eventual hockey stardom. The authors find that the Gladwell’s supposed bias levels out once players reach the major leagues. Read MoreNot So Separate Spheres
Women’s attitudes and decisions about work-family balance belie the popular “separate spheres” notion. In reality, the majority of women work and parent simultaneously, even as workplaces continue to idealize workers who are fully (and solely) devoted to their jobs. Read MoreCheating Hearts
High profile tales of marital infidelity may give the impression that cheating is on the rise. Young people do have more flexible views on infidelity than older cohorts, but survey data reveals that attitudes toward infidelity have become more negative and rates of cheating have remained stable. Read MorePublic Opinion and Health Care
Health care debates preoccupied the American political scene during the first year of Obama's presidency. Data from November 2008 anticipates what proved to be many fault lines on the road to reform. Read MoreAbortion Attitudes and Availability
Forty years after Roe v. Wade, abortion remains one of the most contentious issues in American life. This article uses the murder of Dr. George Tiller to reflect on attitudes about abortion and declining access to abortion services. Read MoreGolden Years? Poverty Among Older Americans
While poverty rates for older Americans have dropped overall since the advent of Social Security, elderly women of color are worse off than these numbers show. Lower lifetime earnings due to sporadic, part-time employment and discrimination in the labor market contribute to these disparities. Read More