Gender Questions?

Gender

Women's History Month: More Necessary Now Than Ever

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on March 20, 2026

Personal Perspective: Why should we celebrate Women's History Month when so much progress seems to be in peril? Because knowing history is essential for a better future.

Personal Perspective: Why should we celebrate Women's History Month when so much progress seems to be in peril? Because knowing history is essential for a better future.

Sex

Have a Merry, Consensual Christmas

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on December 3, 2025

Personal Perspective: Even during the holidays, it's not always clear when sexual activity is unwanted. Sometimes it isn't black and white but grey.

Personal Perspective: Even during the holidays, it's not always clear when sexual activity is unwanted. Sometimes it isn't black and white but grey.

Gender

The East Wing and Women's History Matter

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on October 29, 2025

Why does destroying the East Wing matter to women?

Why does destroying the East Wing matter to women?

Gender

Do Feminist Scholars Still Have Academic Freedom?

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on October 8, 2025

Personal Perspective: Gender matters for teaching about families, workplaces, and even children's literature, but when social science is censored, where does that leave students?

Personal Perspective: Gender matters for teaching about families, workplaces, and even children's literature, but when social science is censored, where does that leave students?

Gender

Where Have All the Women Gone?

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on August 28, 2025

Personal Perspective: The women, at least those at the top, are disappearing.

Personal Perspective: The women, at least those at the top, are disappearing.

Politics

When "Family-Friendly" Really Means a Return to Patriarchy

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on May 27, 2025

Personal Perspective: Don't be fooled. Many policies touted as "family-friendly" are anti-feminist, and bad for mothers and their children.

Personal Perspective: Don't be fooled. Many policies touted as "family-friendly" are anti-feminist, and bad for mothers and their children.

Gender

Gender Matters. So Does Science

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on April 5, 2025

Personal Perspective: An executive order promsing to "defend" women from gender ideology targets those who defy gender stereotypes.

Personal Perspective: An executive order promsing to "defend" women from gender ideology targets those who defy gender stereotypes.

Career

The Downside of Federal Workers Forced Back Into the Office

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on February 11, 2025

Parents, and other employees, prefer flexible workplaces, and are equally productive in them. So why would anyone want to force them back to their desks 9-5, five days a week?

Parents, and other employees, prefer flexible workplaces, and are equally productive in them. So why would anyone want to force them back to their desks 9-5, five days a week?

Marriage

Make a New Year's Resolution for a Better Marriage

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on December 30, 2024

Personal Perspective: Thinking about resolutions? Try committing yourself to being a more equal partner in your marriage, or prompting that resolution from your partner.

Personal Perspective: Thinking about resolutions? Try committing yourself to being a more equal partner in your marriage, or prompting that resolution from your partner.

Caregiving

How Couples Split Chores and Caretaking During COVID

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on July 15, 2024

New research on families during the pandemic finds that for those with feminist values, workplace flexibility allowed fathers to step up to the plate.

New research on families during the pandemic finds that for those with feminist values, workplace flexibility allowed fathers to step up to the plate.

Imposter Syndrome

You Are Not an Imposter

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on June 4, 2024

Now that graduation has come and gone, job-hunting comes next. Here's how to help avoid imposter syndrome.

Now that graduation has come and gone, job-hunting comes next. Here's how to help avoid imposter syndrome.

Gender

Why Fraternity Parties Are Dangerous and What to Do About It

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on January 9, 2024

A new semester brings new experiences for college students. It's too bad that for sorority women it also brings an old danger.

A new semester brings new experiences for college students. It's too bad that for sorority women it also brings an old danger.

Gender

Will Today's Students Learn About Gender and Racial Inequality?

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on October 31, 2023

What happens when faculty do not feel free to teach freely about gender, race, and sexuality? Do they resign? Do they change their curriculum? What happens to student's education?

What happens when faculty do not feel free to teach freely about gender, race, and sexuality? Do they resign? Do they change their curriculum? What happens to student's education?

Gender

Smash the Patriarchy! Long Live the Gender Binary!

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on July 31, 2023

Personal Perspective: Beware the Barbie movie's hidden messages — boys are made of snails and puppy-dogs' tails, and girls of sugar, spice, and everything nice.

Personal Perspective: Beware the Barbie movie's hidden messages — boys are made of snails and puppy-dogs' tails, and girls of sugar, spice, and everything nice.

Gender

Do Men Need Our Help?

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on March 22, 2023

There has been much discussion about men struggling in today's economy. Some are, but not all. The solution is to root out gender stereotypes that limit their options.

There has been much discussion about men struggling in today's economy. Some are, but not all. The solution is to root out gender stereotypes that limit their options.

Sex

Life in Post-Roe America

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on July 12, 2022

Personal Perspective: Will the inability to fully control pregnancy change sexual pleasure in the coming years?

Personal Perspective: Will the inability to fully control pregnancy change sexual pleasure in the coming years?

Alcoholism

Has Feminism Changed Campus Greek Life?

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on July 6, 2021

To discover how has life changed for women in historically white sororities, we compare the data from the 1970s to now.

To discover how has life changed for women in historically white sororities, we compare the data from the 1970s to now.

Parenting

The Paradox of Pandemic Parenting

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on March 24, 2021

Is all of this time at home together really good for children? It depends.

Is all of this time at home together really good for children? It depends.

Gender

Is Denmark a Feminist Utopia?

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on December 6, 2020

Are there feminist lessons we can learn from the Danish TV show "Borgen?"

Are there feminist lessons we can learn from the Danish TV show "Borgen?"

Career

Will COVID-19 Push Women Out of the Labor Force?

Barbara J. Risman Ph.D. on July 2, 2020

Are women equal citizens with the right to work for pay? What happens if workplaces reopen but schools and day care do not?

Are women equal citizens with the right to work for pay? What happens if workplaces reopen but schools and day care do not?