Social Inequality

A student selecting a Ph.D. concentration in the Sociology of Inequality can specialize in one of three related areas or construct a study plan that draws significantly from each.

Specializing in Race/Ethnicity involves examining social phenomena related to the social construction of racial/ethnic categories and consequences for life chances.  Our department is particularly strong in research on health, education and immigration, including differential access to resources.  We have a number of faculty members with joint or affiliated positions with the Institute for Ethnic Studies.

The Sociology of Gender specialty considers issues ranging from labor markets, family and economic inequalities, to health care and quality of life.  The emphasis is on a range of research methodologies and theories, including feminist analyses, and the social construction of gender and sexuality.  A Women's and Gender Studies certificate is available through the interdisciplinary program at UNL.

The Sociology of Social Class focuses on theory and research associated with economic intersections of inequality, especially labor markets, poverty and life chances.  This specialty emphasizes research identifying how economic factors and social locations vary across gender, age and race/ethnicity.

Students who complete a concentration in this program will have a broad understanding of theory and research on inequality.  Faculty research projects provide students with training and opportunities to work on research considering gender and social class across racial and cultural groups.  The program provides comprehensive training in quantitative survey methods and statistical techniques, historical research methods and qualitative field analyses appropriate to the in-depth study of inequality.

Faculty Publications in the Area of Social Inequalities with Graduate Students

Berdahl, Terceira and Julia McQuillan. (Forthcoming). Occupational racial composition and non-fatal work injuries. Social Problems.

McGinnis, Lee, Julia McQuillan and Connie Chapple. 2005. “I Just want to Play: Women and Golf”. Sociology of Sport & Social Issues. 29: (3):313-337.

Chapple, Connie, Julia McQuillan and Terceira Berdahl. 2005. "Gender, Social Bonds and Delinquency: A Comparison of Boys’ and Girls’ Models”. Social Science Research. 34 (2):357-383.

Freng, Adrienne, Scott Freng and Helen A. Moore. 2007. “Examining American Indians’ Recall of Cultural Inclusion in School” Journal of American Indian Education 46:42-61.

Perry, Gary, Helen A. Moore, Kathy Acosta, Connie Frey and Crystal Edwards. 2007. "Maintaining Credibility and Authority as an Instructor of Color in Diversity-Education Classrooms:  A Qualitative Inquiry" Journal of Higher Education (Forthcoming).

Terceira Berdahl and Helen A. Moore. 2004   “Job Exit Queues:  How gender, power and status shape post-merger job exits” Equal Opportunities International  (Special issue on Gender & Work) 23:45-66.