Every generation grows up believing the next one is making the world worse — but the real story is far more revealing. Boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z are all shaped by the cultural, economic, and technological shocks of their youth, creating shared patterns that repeat across history. Despite the noise of “generational wars,” the underlying forces shaping our identities are remarkably similar. Understanding these patterns doesn’t just explain why tensions flare up — it shows how social change actually happens.
The Gospel According to Mammon: Why a Trillionaire Is a Moral Absurdity
Extreme wealth at the scale of a trillion dollars is a moral and social crisis. Such wealth concentrate power and influence while billions remain in precarity. Drawing on Marx, Smith, and Christian ethics, this essay argues that unbounded accumulation undermines justice, civic equality, and human flourishing, revealing the moral absurdity of extreme inequality.
Explainer: What is Antifa and is the Trump administration causing ‘moral panic’?
The Mirror US News recently asked me how the Trump administration’s portrayal of Antifa reflects a broader sociological pattern of moral panic and political framing.For my contribution, I explained how labeling Antifa as a “shadowy and violent enemy” serves as a strategic political tool undermining left-wing critics, discouraging protest, and legitimizing aggressive law enforcement tactics.... Continue Reading →
“No Kings” Protests Set to Sweep US Even as Trump Increases Attacks on Activists
Earlier this week, I was quoted in a Truthout (a not-for-profit news organization) for article examining the upcoming “No Kings” protests and the political framing around so-called antifa activity. You can read it here: https://truthout.org/articles/no-kings-protests-set-to-sweep-us-even-as-trump-increases-attacks-on-activists/ In my comments, I tried to draw attention to how political actors use labels to shape the public imagination long... Continue Reading →
More people believing conspiracy theories could threaten democracy and public health
In this article I share with the writer that conspiracy theories and moral panics surge during social change, fueling collective fear, spreading misinformation, fracturing culture, eroding trust, and ultimately threatening democracy and public health worldwide.
Map Reveals States Where Youth Are Most At Risk
In contributing to Map Reveals States Where Youth Are Most At Risk, I explained how youth risk factors, poverty, education inequality, crime, and limited healthcare access are rooted in structural inequalities, emphasizing the urgent need for policies supporting vulnerable children and communities nationwide.
States with the Most At-Risk Youth (2025)
I'm always grateful when people outside of academia reach out for sociological insights on today’s pressing social issues. Recently, I was asked to weigh in on a question that continues to gain urgency: Why do so many rural young people in the United States feel profoundly disconnected from society? Too often, public conversations default to... Continue Reading →
2020s Have One Crucial Thing in Common With 60s and 70s, Experts Say
Baby Boomers and fellow Gen Xers are you feeling pangs of social déjà vu? You’re not imagining things. This week, I had the opportunity to share some sociological insights with Newsweek reporter Melissa Fleur Afshar in her latest piece examining the parallels between our current decade and the turbulence of the 60s and 70s. From... Continue Reading →
“Are Young People Lazy, or Are They Just Hopeless?”
This week, I had a unique opportunity to blend teaching with #publicsociology. About 30 minutes before my morning Research Methods class, I received a media query from Newsweek asking why Gen Z experiences a greater sense of hopelessness compared to past generations. https://www.newsweek.com/are-young-people-lazy-hopeless-2037840 Rather than answering alone, I decided to turn my class (22 students,... Continue Reading →
Colorizing Sociology: How Calvinism Shaped the Spirit of Capitalism, Insights from Max Weber
Max Weber's landmark work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1905), offers profound insights into the interplay between religious belief systems and economic behavior. Central to Weber's argument is the connection between Calvinism, a form of Protestantism, and the rise of capitalism. But how did religious ideals influence economic practices? Let’s delve into... Continue Reading →
Conservatives More Likely to Report Experiencing Discrimination
I’m not sure how I feel about the operating title of this piece. I was nevertheless happy to have the opportunity to share my sociological insights with Newsweek. It was on a recent study examining the role of ideology in influencing where we live. Is this the next criteria for residential segregation? Read more here... Continue Reading →
How does Kamala Harris plan to restore confidence in the ‘American Dream’?
I had the opportunity to share my sociological thoughts with a non-English speaking audience regarding a recent Pew study concerning the state of the American Middle Class. Elements of our conversation also delved into what the implications of its findings will have on the up coming election, and some of Vice President Harris policy proposals.... Continue Reading →
How the Serial podcast led to a true crime boom, and so much more – Vox
I was recently asked to share my sociological insights on the popularity of True Crime podcasts. "The show that helped free Adnan Syed completely upended how much the average person knows about US legal and prison systems." — Read on http://www.vox.com/culture/351238/serial-true-crime-podcast-criminal-justice-adnan-syed
Florida’s Social Media Ban Could Result In ‘Forbidden Fruit’ Effect
I was recently asked to share my sociological insights with Forbes on the recent Florida ban related to children and social media. Here is the link 👇🏼 Florida’s Social Media Ban Could Result In ‘Forbidden Fruit’ Effect
Growing up poor and experiencing social mobility
I Grew Up Poor: How I Reached the Upper Middle Class by Age 30 | GOBankingRates We talked to Kent Bausman, professor of sociology at Maryville University in St. Louis, whose life shows one example of going from rags to riches. After growing up poor with just his single mom, he took deliberate steps to... Continue Reading →
Colorizing Sociology: Emile Durkheim – Anomie
Emile Durkheim introduced the concept of Anomie in “The Division of Labor in Society" published in 1893. He added to it further with his later publication in 1897 “Suicide.” Generally, anomie refers to a societal state of normlessness or lack of social cohesion. This normlessness occurs when there is a breakdown in the general social... Continue Reading →
Social Media Has An Answer For Everything – Unfortunately Many Are Conspiracy Theories You Shouldn’t Believe
"The interesting dynamic of social media's contribution to conspiracy theories is not only its amplification of existing or emergent theories, but also how it has exponentially added to their commodification," said Bausman. — Read on http://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2023/02/04/social-media-has-an-answer-for-everything--unfortunately-most-are-conspiracy-theories-you-shouldnt-believe/
Whether it’s ‘soft lifers’ or ‘quiet quitters’ COVID created a new workforce | The Hill
The pandemic appears to have awakened a new form of worker consciousness that social media is tapping into and helping to amplify. — Read on thehill.com/opinion/technology/3719960-whether-its-soft-lifers-or-quiet-quitters-covid-created-a-new-workforce/
#AdnanSyed is a free man, eyeing exoneration. Here’s what we know – The Washington Post.
Had an interesting conversation with the authors on the implications of these forms and directions of public pressure as a new check and balance on the operation of our justice system Prosecutors dropped the charges against Adnan Syed, the subject of the "Serial" podcast. We’re answering your questions about what may happen next. — Read... Continue Reading →
Airbnb’s Party Ban and the Challenge of Neighborhood Crime Control
I was invited to write my thoughts about the implications of a recent policy change Airbnb made this summer. The piece discusses how listings can be destabilizing for a neighborhood’s oversight of public safety. I feel I should note that I have used such services in lodging myself, and have preferred the experience compared to... Continue Reading →
In a Democracy
We (you) are the state. We are the arbitrators of collective affairs. Without us there is anarchy and no possibility of enduring happiness. The state is our collective voice, our contribution to the definition of a life of liberty in this shared world. Our individual pursuits of happiness and their resulting successes and failure are... Continue Reading →
Why Are Mass Shooting Events Increasing? – The Crime Report
My recent by-line in The Crime Report: For the last three decades, at least until recently, the U.S. has been experiencing a steady decline in overall violent crime and homicide rates. Nevertheless, over that same period, there has been a steady increase in the frequency of mass shooting events, like the incident that left six... Continue Reading →
Social Media Has Provided A Skewed Account Of The War In Ukraine – Forbes
Bausman continued. "Social media and its variety of platforms has yet to establish some type of equivalent set of filters. Without these de-facto gatekeepers of information, bad actors now have platforms to disseminate misinformation and shape the narrative of events on the ground." https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2022/03/31/social-media-has-provided-a-skewed-account-of-the-war-in-ukraine/?sh=e93fb9d7826e
Is Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine The First Social Media War? #Ukraine
“The dangers of misinformation could release a powder keg of conflict in the region, but its use for relating real time information and galvanizing support may just prove to be Putin's Achilles heel."
Amazon Ended Program That Paid Employees To Post Positive Comments
"A recognized paid endorsement by a customer – not a celebrity or public figure – or employee diminishes the authority of the positive review and thereby diminishes its intended influence," explained Bausman. "It is one thing to use paid reviews to bring attention to a business' product and its quality; it's quite telling however to use paid... Continue Reading →
Understanding the school to prison pipeline
I was invited recently to share my understanding of the school to prison pipeline for “The Hill” Here is the link https://thehill.com/changing-america/opinion/577843-busting-the-school-to-prison-pipeline-takes-more-than-diversity
Is There a Link Between Airbnb and Neighborhood Crime Rates? | The Crime Report
A recent study suggests a possible link between Airbnb's and the occurrence of crime. Here is my recently requested inference of that study and those like it. — Read on thecrimereport.org/2021/08/06/is-there-a-link-between-airbnb-and-neighborhood-crime-rates/
Sharing my “First generation” experience navigating college
Link below 👇🏼 http://www.linkedin.com/posts/thamarrahjones_join-us-january-27th-on-linkedin-live-at-activity-6760244591363940352-2y4d This is my 19 year old factory working self that I refer to in the interview.
Giving my sociological point that we are largely in a period of cultural lag regarding how we collectively use social media to feel integrated with community. 👇🏼
We've seen social media sell our personal data and spread misinformation and hate, and our personal data. But we still can’t break up with it. — Read on http://www.damemagazine.com/2020/12/15/why-do-we-stay-online/
“A Certain Romance” #ArcticMonkeys
I don’t know what it is at this moment in time, but I have been drawn to a constant rotation of the Arctic Monkeys. In particular their debut album “Whatever people say I am, that’s what I am not”. It takes me to my younger self and makes me think of my friendships during this... Continue Reading →
Estimated Death Toll Above Normal
This is from the New York Times and in my opinion it perfectly epitomizes the seriousness of this virus. Read it this way. We are looking at how many deaths have occurred by region for the period of March 1 to July 25, compared to the same period last year. It represents how many people... Continue Reading →
Coronavirus: For Introverts, Quarantine Can Be a Liberation – Bloomberg
The difference lies in what, cognitively, somebody finds stimulating as opposed to exhausting. — Read on http://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-28/coronavirus-for-introverts-quarantine-can-be-a-liberation
