Faculty Profiles
Sociologist Analyzes Inequality
“As the child of immigrants from two very different countries (India and Switzerland)—and brought up in a third country (the United States)—I have taken seriously the importance of a comparative and global lens,” says Associate Professor Joya Misra (sociology and public policy). As an Asian-American woman, I have also paid significant attention to how race/ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, and nationality intersect and shape experiences in crucial ways. By taking a comparative approach to understanding how social policies shape people’s experiences, I aim to make concrete policy suggestions for reducing inequality. Currently, my research focuses on work-family policies, and I have a wonderful collaborator in my colleague Michelle Budig.”
Misra’s interests require her to be thoughtful in her everyday life about how inequalities are created and maintained. Her research points out how policies often entrench existing inequalities, or have contradictory effects for different groups of people—for example, policies that help married mothers but hurt single mothers. “There is no perfect society or set of policies,” says Misra, “but we can work toward making our society a happier, healthier, more equitable place.”
A strong voice for interdisciplinary and collaborative research, Misra is steadfast in making contributions that underpin excellence in both sociology and the Center for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA). “When I came to campus in 1999, I joined a sociology faculty with truly collaborative leanings,” she recalls. “Immediately I engaged in a very successful project, headed by Dan Clawson (sociology). With Naomi Gerstel (sociology), Nancy Folbre (economics), Eve Weinbaum (labor studies), Dale Melcher (labor studies), and Nancy DeProsse (CPPA), we brought academics, policymakers and advocates together to build an early education and care program in the U.S. While, after Bush took the presidency, the political moment was not right to develop federal early education policy, we were able to help provide support for statewide movements for early education and care.”
Later, Misra co-edited with colleagues Doug Anderton, Dan Clawson, Naomi Gerstel, Randall Stokes, and Robert Zussman the Rose Book Series in Sociology, published by the Russell Sage Foundation. It is the only book series supported by the American Sociological Association. The same team coedited Public Sociology: Fifteen Eminent Sociologists Debate Politics and the Profession in the Twenty-first Century, released this past summer by University of California Press. The book brings together renowned sociologists who debate the perils and potentials of “public sociology.” It not only speaks to other academics or policymakers, but engages with social movements and other publics. Misra also has partnered with Agustin LaoMontes to bring an international conference on “World-Systemic Crisis and Contending Political Scenarios” to campus, and edit two volumes drawn from those conference papers. “Our close intellectual friendships,” notes Misra. “are key to maintaining the department’s team spirit and research excellence. This down-to-earth faculty values teaching, evidenced by our many award winners, and supports a wide variety of scholarship. We take students seriously and encourage taking sociology out into the world.”
When Misra was hired, five other young faculty joined the recently-founded CPPA through joint appointments as well: Michael Ash (economics), Jim Murphy (resource economics), Brenda Bushouse (political science), Charlie Schweik (forestry), and Katie McDermott (educational policy, research and administration). “Among us,” Misra recalls, “we had six children within one and a half years, making our community a tight-knit one, connected by intellectual interests as well as similar life stages.” Led by John Hird, Jane Fountain, and now Lee Badgett, CPPA has grown into a program we’re very proud of. Students won’t find such a high-quality program with as much individualized attention anywhere else. They work on incredibly varied topics.”
Misra might be considered an accidental sociologist. “I was a religion major and a sociology minor, Religion didn’t seem like an easy career track for me. I had run my college’s alternative radio station for two years, and thought I’d go into radio as a career. But my parents desperately wanted me to attend graduate school. To appease them, I took the GREs and applied to a few places. Some fellowship offers came along, and my parents convinced me it was now or never (I realized later that wasn’t really the case!).
“I joined Emory University’s sociology program, and discovered that I loved it! I found myself surrounded by people who loved to think and read and reflect and write as much as I do. The very structured training in comparative political economy drew on my interests in religion and political science and provided outstanding mentors in both research and teaching.”
From Emory, Misra took her first job at the University of Georgia. “A wonderful place at a wonderful time,” she reflects. “An amazing group of graduate students made me feel like I had made the right decision in becoming an academic. They’ve since published books and articles in the best journals of the field, and earned tenure at various institutions”
Misra stayed for five years, but UGA hadn’t found a way to hire her husband David Mednicoff. “Looking for jobs together was frustrating,” Misra says. “We never seemed to get interviews and offers in the same region. On the positive side, I did get to know sociologists all over the country! We were almost ready to give up, when the UMass Amherst opportunities arose.” (Mednicoff, who specializes in Middle Eastern politics, international and comparative law and politics, human rights and globalization theory, is also assistant professor of legal studies and public policy.)
When their daughter was born five years ago, Misra was grateful for the work-family policies the university has in place. “My research is all about work-family policy, so I know just how important these policies have been to my career and family,” she says. “I took a parental leave, and will do so again this spring, since we are adopting a little boy from India. My husband and daughter make everything worthwhile, and I’m grateful that I can be a partner, parent, and friend while also doing the work I love.”
October 18, 2007
