Why are these scenarios ubiquitous in retail stores throughout America?

This is one of many questions about mall culture Christine Williams, professor of sociology, explores in “Inside Toyland: Working, Shopping and Social Inequality” (University of California Press, 2005), which reveals the unsavory realities of race, gender and class in a minimum-wage work environment.

During research leave from the university, Williams spent two six-month stints working as a cashier, stocker and sales associate at two big box toy stores: “The Diamond,” a unionized high-end shop full of brand-name children’s apparel and $100 stuffed animals; and “Toy Warehouse,” a discount outlet store located on the outskirts of town.

Despite the differences in clientele and atmosphere, the sociologist found disquieting similarities between the two stores: gender and racial profiling among supervisors, clerks and customers.

In one example, she describes how she was assigned to work as a cashier with all the other white and light-skinned females, while her African-American co-worker was confined to stockroom duties.

Through her fly-on-the-wall observations of the retail work environment, Williams examines how the political economy of shopping impacts American culture, and the ways consumption patterns contribute to the disintegration of workers rights.

Will our nation’s shopping culture ever change?

Three books by professors from the College of Liberal Arts, offer keen insight into the challenges our new president will face. From scandals in the White House to party polarization to the issue of race in political campaigns, these books provide timely perspectives into hot-button issues facing the nation in 2009.

“Race, Republicans, and the Return of the Party of Lincoln”

Is it possible for a political party to successfully revamp its image without changing its political platform? How do voters respond to these seemingly promising campaigns?

Tasha Philpot, assistant professor of government and African and African American Studies, examines these questions in her book “Race, Republicans, and the Return of the Party of Lincoln” (The University of Michigan Press, 2007).

Using the 2000 Republican National Convention as a case study, she analyzes how parties rebrand themselves to reach out to minority voters. Philpot examines experiments, focus groups, national surveys and newspaper articles to explore how voters perceive changes in political parties.

As the U.S. electorate becomes more racially diverse, how will political parties rebrand themselves in the future? Add your insights in the comments section.

“Party Polarization in Congress”

What propelled the rise in polarization among party lines? To put it simply, why can’t Democrats and Republicans just get along?

Examining more than 30 years of congressional history, Sean Theriault, associate professor of government, explores the “Right vs. Left” phenomenon in his book “Party Polarization in Congress” (Cambridge University Press, 2008).

Theriault defines the building blocks for party polarization in the U.S. Congress by examining the increasing homogony in congressional districts and the evolution of legislative procedures. His studies on redistricting and political extremism reveal how both parties have grown more ideologically polarized and less diverse.

With the landslide win of Democrats in both the Senate and the House, will they reach across the divide to their Republican counterparts in 2009?

“On Scandal: Moral Disturbances in Society, Politics and Art”

From Bill Clinton’s nationally publicized indiscretions with Monica Lewinsky, to Richard Nixon’s infamous Watergate scandal, moral transgressions in the political arena generate overwhelming amounts of media buzz.

These are just two of several case studies Ari Adut, assistant professor of sociology, examines in his book “On Scandal: Moral Disturbances in Society, Politics and Art” (Cambridge University Press, 2008).

From a sociological perspective, Adut analyzes a broad range of case studies, including the vulnerabilities of presidents, the rise in sexual politics and reactions to controversial content in modern art. He reveals the conditions that cause scandals, while others slip under the radar.

What do you think has been one of the most visible but irrelevant political scandals in American history?

“Forbidden Fruit: Sex & Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers,” published last year by Oxford University Press, tells the story of the sexual values and practices of American teenagers, paying particular attention to how participating in organized religion shapes sexual decision making.

Watch Regenerus discuss the book in this Take 5 video. Or check out the story and tell us what you think.