Melanie Heath

Two sets of overarching questions have guided the development of my research agenda. First, my research has sought to uncover the social consequences of transformations in gender, sexuality, and family. How do these social changes impact inequality and cultural and political institutions and behavior? The second set relates to the intersections between the state, law, and social inequality. How do the interactions of law and policy provide opportunities and constraints for addressing inequalities based on gender, sexuality, and family? What is the relationship between law, culture, and social change? With specializations in the sociology of gender, family, sexualities, globalization, inequality, law, and culture—and specifically political and religious cultures—my research has made significant contributions by examining (1) gender and racial ideologies in the Promise Keepers movement; (2) the social consequences of marriage promotion policies on inequality; (3) comparative legal and cultural framings of polygamy in regard to women’s and religious rights; and the politics of family transformation and same-sex marriage.