Gayle Kaufman Chair & Nancy and Erwin Maddrey Professor of Sociology and Gender & Sexuality Studies

I teach courses on gender, family, sport, statistics and research methods. My classes challenge normative conceptions of gender and examine the role of institutions in shaping these norms. I like to center students’ voices in the classroom and particularly enjoy engaging students in research projects.   

My research examines aspects of modern marriage, parenting and family. My first book, Superdads: How Fathers Balance Work and Family in the 21st Century, focuses on fathers who adjust their work lives to suit their families. My second book, Fixing Parental Leave, offers policy lessons from Sweden and the UK. I have been a Fulbright Scholar at the  University of Leicester (UK) as well as a visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge and Umeå University (Sweden).

Courses

I am teaching the following courses in 2024-2025:

• GSS 250: Feminist & Queer Methods (Spring)
• SOC 310: Gender, Sexuality, & Sports (Spring)
• SOC 390: Qualitative Research Methods (Fall)

Thesis Advising

• Chen, Li Yin ’24 – Embracing diversity: Navigating coming out across cultures and identities
• Korre, Anastasia ’23 – Total crisis: How the economic crisis of 2008 affected the structure of the Greek political institution
• Meng, Shuo ’24 – Family background, parental involvement, and child’s academic achievement
• Yen, Michael ’23 – Using space to do race: A comparison of experiences within racial affinity organizations and their use of identity designated spaces

Publications with Students (indicated by *)

• Bair, M.*, & Kaufman, G. (2023). Gender, LGB status, and attitudes toward traditional wedding practices. The Social Science Journal, 60(3), 401-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/03623319.2020.1744953
• Kaufman, G., Aiello, A.,* Ellis, C.,* & Compton, D. (2022). Attitudes toward same-sex marriage, polyamorous marriage, and conventional marriage ideals among college students in the southeastern United States. Sexuality & Culture, 26, 1599-1620. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-09960-y
• Morris, G.,* Chen, L. Y.,* Kaufman, G., & Compton, D. (2024). Attitudes toward mononormativity and polyamorous legal rights in the US. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 21, 949-959. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-024-00980-x