This spring, the Department was honored to host Professor Jessica Calarco of the University of Wisconsin–Madison as an Ida Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor. Her residency offered a compelling look at the intersection of gender, labor, and social policy in the United States.

In her featured university lecture, Professor Calarco presented findings from her latest research on right-wing mothers. Through in-depth interviews with 40 participants, she identified a phenomenon she terms “pragmatic traditionalism.” This approach describes how these women navigate the tension between traditional gender ideals and modern economic pressures. By practicing pragmatic traditionalism, they project an image of themselves as homemakers while simultaneously making critical financial contributions to their households. Professor Calarco’s research highlights the nuanced ways individuals adapt their identities to balance ideological values with the fiscal realities of contemporary American life.

In addition to her lecture, Professor Calarco discussed her recent book, Holding It Together: How Women Became America's Safety Net, at Prairie Lights Bookstore. Her book provides a critical examination of U.S. social policy, arguing that our current system has systematically offloaded the burden of care onto women. By positioning women as the primary "social safety net" for their families and communities, this framework sustains deep-seated gender inequalities. 

We are grateful to the Ida Beam program for facilitating Professor Calarco’s visit. It offered our faculty and students valuable insights into the sociological complexities of work and family life.