My overarching research interests surround social inequalities, with a focus on the sociology of race and education, as well as the sociology of gender, sexuality, and the body. In a forthcoming paper, I examined racial mismatch in high school classrooms and how racial stereotyping operates through white teachersÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ™ evaluations of their students. My dissertation is mixed methods study of how gay men simultaneously experience weight and sexual orientation stigmas. To examine resistance against stigma, I studied the bear subculture. The bears are a group of gay men who reject narrow stereotypes of gay male beauty and effeminacy and idealize bigger, hirsute bodies and a "regular guy" masculinity. Currently, I am in the beginning stages of a qualitative project on serodiscordant couples (romantic partners in which one person is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative) and their management of stigma, health, and anxiety. In my non-academic life, I enjoy playing music, hiking, and spending time with my dog, Piper.
The Charger Blog
In advance of the start of the 2022-23 academic year, Patrick McGrady, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, offers an update on the ongoing work of a University-wide committee focusing on attracting employees as well as enabling them to find a true sense of belonging as part of our community. He also introduces a new co-chair to support these efforts.