Department of Sociology

Locator map of D'Arcy Island in British Columbia

How a tiny island off Victoria became part of B.C.’s racist history

British Columbians who spent the spring locked down due to COVID-19 are now making up for lost time by getting outdoors and enjoying B.C.’s parks.

Jul 27, 2020

As the Canadian economy re-opens, men are returning to work more quickly than women.

Gender employment gap among parents increases over first three months of pandemic

As the Canadian economy reopens, mothers are much less likely to be back at work than fathers—a gender gap that has been widening since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Jul 7, 2020

Credit: Tedward Quinn/Unsplash

New UBC course explores how COVID-19 is impacting society

Even if you’re tired of COVID-19—and who isn’t?—hundreds of UBC students are preparing to embark on a new credit course examining the pandemic on a worldwide scale.

Jun 29, 2020

Credit: JumpStory

Social circles of visible-minority youth become less diverse as they get older

Even if they were born in Canada, visible-minority children of immigrants tend to stick more closely with their own ethnic groups as they get older.

Jun 26, 2020

Trend toward gender balance in workforce reflected in housekeeping chores

Trend toward gender balance in workforce reflected in housekeeping chores

Women’s increasing participation in the workforce since the mid-1980s has helped narrow the gap between the amount of housework being done by men and women, new UBC research suggests.

May 28, 2019

Gay and lesbian spaces in the city becoming more diverse, not going away

Gay and lesbian spaces in the city becoming more diverse, not going away

Gay and lesbian spaces in cities are dispersing and diversifying rather than disappearing, new University of British Columbia research has found.

Mar 7, 2019

UBC experts on national housing strategy

UBC experts on national housing strategy

The federal government is expected to announce details of its national housing strategy on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Nov 21, 2017

UBC experts on national housing report

UBC experts on national housing report

The federal government is expected to release its housing report on Nov. 22, which is also National Housing Day. UBC experts are available to comment.

Nov 21, 2016

Despite more education, women still tend to choose husbands with higher incomes

Despite more education, women still tend to choose husbands with higher incomes

More women earn university degrees than men today. But a new UBC study looking at heterosexual marriage patterns shows that women, especially when marrying less educated men, still tend to choose husbands who have higher incomes than themselves.

Oct 28, 2016

Single-family houses ‘a dying breed’ in Vancouver: UBC expert

Single-family houses ‘a dying breed’ in Vancouver: UBC expert

Vancouver is seen as one of the most livable cities in the world. UBC sociology professor Nathanael Lauster believes that’s because more people live in condos and townhouses than single-family homes in this city.

Oct 19, 2016

Citizens of democratic countries live 11 years longer: UBC study

Citizens of democratic countries live 11 years longer: UBC study

Living in a democratic country may add 11 years to your life expectancy, according to new research from the University of British Columbia’s department of sociology.

Jun 21, 2016

UBC study: Gay couples face pressure to marry, conform to relationship status quo

UBC study: Gay couples face pressure to marry, conform to relationship status quo

Unmarried same-sex couples in Canada are feeling pressure to tie the knot, according to a recent study published in the Canadian Review of Sociology that examined their experiences.

Jan 27, 2016

What musical taste tells us about social class

What musical taste tells us about social class

Love the opera? Hungry for hip hop? It turns out that your musical likes and dislikes may say more about you than you think, according to UBC research.

Jun 3, 2015