Emile Durkheim, “The Functions of Crime” — This is a brief overview of the functionalist understanding of crime and deviance.
Category: Readings
Readings on Social Class
Visualizing Social Stratification in the US, Thoughtco.com — This is a useful overview of social stratification with charts/data.
Forced Out: For Many Poor Americans Eviction Never Ends, Matthew Desmond, The New Yorker — This is an excellent, accessible excerpt from Desmond’s book Evicted that gives a good overview of structural causes of poverty and housing insecurity.
Gender Inequality Readings
“Coronavirus is a Disaster for Feminism,” by Helen Lewis — This is a good overview of the impact of COVID-19 on women, with reference to the second shift and gender pay gap.
The Second Shift (excerpt), by Arlie Hochschild — This is a classic sociological reading on gender inequality and can also be useful for talking about research methods.
Race/Ethnicity Readings
Race and Ethnicity
“America’s Enduring Caste System,” by Isabel Wilkerson — This is a great excerpt of Wilkerson’s book published in the NY Times Magazine.
The 1619 Project, The New York Times — Another great NY Times resource, with many different articles.
