Sociology Department

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Penn's Jonathan Zimmerman to Present 'Censorship and Free Speech on College Campuses in the Age of Trump' Dec. 1 2017-11-16
Audible's new service helps romance novel fans skip straight to 'the good part'

This stigma hasn't necessarily abated since the publishing of "Fifty Shades of Grey," the bestselling erotic romance novel from British author E.L. James that spurred two sequels and a blockbuster film franchise. That series was many readers' first forays into erotic fiction,…

2017-11-02
Being single could help you live longer

Socializing and feeling like you are part of the community is important for maintaining your mental health.

Single people have a lower body mass index (BMI.)

That’s according to a study published in the Journal of Family issued in 2015.

Experts found that single…

2017-09-25
After tough history, Chinese retirees marvel at country’s changes

“Because China went through such a tumultuous period of time, Chinese people are very resilient, sensitive, attuned to events around them,” says Luo Baozhen, a sociology professor at Western Washington University.

2017-09-08
Governor Appoints Trista Truemper as New WWU Student Trustee 2017-06-23
Across the Country, a Republican Push to Rein In Protesters

Some free-speech advocates, however, have their doubts. “There are already laws on the books in states that say if you break something or harm somebody, you’re going to be prosecuted,” said Patrick F. Gillham, a sociologist at Western…

2017-03-02
Study finds China’s revised child policy won’t lead to ‘baby boom’

Includes interview with Western Professor Baozhen Luo (see link for imbedded video with her)

2016-10-26
Doug Mah: State worker, Olympia mayor and now business owner

Mah earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in sociology at Western Washington University. His undergraduate degree had an emphasis in criminology, while his graduate degree had an emphasis in demography.

2016-10-24
WWU professor studying why certain predominantly Muslim nations have higher rates of women engineers than U.S.

New research aims to help reverse decades of failed efforts to increase the percentage of women in engineering in the United States by studying nations where the disparity is not as severe: Jordan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. 

2016-09-14
Study Suggests Married Black Women Gain More Weight than Singles

A new study says single living may be better for your waistline. That’s right, marriage could mean more pesky pounds, says sociologist Joe Teachman at Western Washington University.
If college students gain the infamous ‘freshmen 15’ in their first year of college, what do we call the…

2016-05-12
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