Social Sciences
View a list of departments in social sciences & global programs.

One strange semester, part 2
More impressions, insights and lessons learned by faculty during spring’s historic shift to remote teaching.

Vulnerable workers, unsafe conditions
There have been more than 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in poultry and other meat processing plants in North Carolina, and over 10,000 cases across the United States. The industry is the subject of UNC-Chapel Hill anthropologist Angela Stuesse’s scholarly work.

Inequality amplifies African Americans’ COVID-19 risk
Recent data shows that minorities are more at risk for contracting COVID-19 and experiencing poor health outcomes. In particular, African Americans in COVID-19 hot spots are twice as likely to die from the virus than their white counterparts.

Broadband providers adjust as internet use spikes under COVID-19
Global stay-at-home orders in response to COVID-19 have shifted even more of people’s daily lives onto the internet, and providers have struggled to keep pace.

Front porch revival
With origins in the South, outdoor spaces are fostering a sense of ‘we are all in this together.’ Historians may look back at the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic as a time when people returned to their front porches, stoops, balconies and fire escapes for fresh air and a neighborly greeting. One need look no further than the daily news or their … Continued

During a Pandemic, Strong Public Policy Can Save Lives
When it comes to a country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease, strong public health policy can mean the difference between life or death for millions.

One strange semester
Impressions, insights and lessons learned by faculty during spring’s historic shift to remote teaching.