About
Current Research
Current research projects of sociology faculty at Pitt
- Studies of the interplay of racial, class, and gender inequalities in Brazil
- Afro-Caribbean women's statuses and identities
- Gender, states, and social policies
- Gender and social movements
- The changing interplay of the local and the global
- Battering and welfare-to-work transition
- Organized racism and hate crimes
Much of this work is interdisciplinary, and GRC faculty and students are active in the Women's Studies Program, the University Center for International Studies, the Center for Race and Social Problems, the University Center for Social and Urban Research, the Cultural Studies Program, and other interdisciplinary efforts across campus and around the world.
Current research pursued by Pitt sociologists
- Racist and anti racist movements in the United States and Europe
- The role of social movements in the history of democracy
- Movements about welfare rights in the wealthy countries
- Movements of the far right
- The human rights movement
- Historical memory in Japan and the USA
- Gay and Lesbian Movements
- Concepts of Democracy
- Peace Movements
- Women's political participation
Current research pursued by Ph.D Candidates
Maria Jose Alvarez Rivadulla
Title: Contentious Urbanization from Below: Land Squatting in Montevideo
Through a combination of statistical analysis and ethnographic tools, this project attempts to describe and explain the origins and trajectories of land squatting as a social movement in Montevideo, Uruguay from its emergence in the 1950s until today. Such an elusive form of collective action is difficult to grasp theoretically and methodologically. This has been the most challenging/interesting part of the project to me so far.
Kai Heidemann
My disseration is a qualitative exploration of minority language rights activism in France. Bringing social movement studies into dialogue with the sociology of education, my research examines how grassroots language activists have developed alternative, community-based schooling organizations as a way to promote greater levels of cultural and political self-determination for linguistic minority groups. Within this context, I also theorize more broadly on the ways in which ethnolinguistic movements are challenging the historical framework of democratic governance in Europe.
Margee Kerr
Many people have mobilized around the theory that mercury in federally licensed vaccines partially or completely caused their child's or loved one's autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) rejects this theory. How and why have activists continued to mobilize around the theory that mercury in vaccines triggered ASDs? Through the analysis of survey data, in-depth interviews, and archival documents, I will examine divergent knowledge claims among ASD/mercury activists, scientists, and the CDC as well as strategies for achieving credibility in the ASD/mercury link debate. Specifically, my dissertation will a) explain different meanings and constructions of credibility in the debate, b) describe and analyze activists' mobilization, and c) investigate which strategies of credibility activists have employed to advance their claims.
Melissa Swauger
My dissertation explores how gender, social class, and race impact adolescent girls perceptions of the future. To carry out this project I conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups with adolescent girls and mothers in the Pittsburgh region.
Veronica Szabo
My dissertation examines political indoctrination in communist Romania (1980-1989). Through archival research and life histories and interviews with teachers, researchers and policymakers I am mapping the way the indoctrination efforts were organized, received and became successful (or not) over time.