Everyday Sociology Blog

Traveling Light: Testing the Limits of Consumption

By Karen Sternheimer Earlier this year I booked a flight using frequent flier miles that ended up costing me about $20 total (a good deal on this route is typically at least $200). Needless to say, I was pretty excited about this. But my l

(Another) Sociological Celebration of Baseball

By Karen Sternheimer Three years ago, Todd Schoepflin wrote about his love of baseball and its sociological significance. As a father of young players, he noted its absence during the pandemic-related shutdown of 2020. Because of its inter

Restrooms in Cultural Context

By Karen Sternheimer Several years ago, I visited the Mauna Kea Observatory on the Big Island of Hawai’i. I was surprised and amused by a sign I saw in the visitor’s bathroom, instructing users how to, um, use the facilities. I had previou

Culture, Structure, and Public Transportation

By Karen Sternheimer Traveling by train from Chamonix, France to Grindelwald, Switzerland was a breeze, despite having to change trains five (!) times. It wouldn’t have been so easy in most other countries. Certainly not where we live, in