A 2025 research article by College of Arts and Sciences Sociology Associate Professor MacKenzie Christensen’s 2025 article has received recognition from the American Sociological Association (ASA).
The association awarded Christensen and the article’s coauthors Article of the Year Award from the Family Section of the ASA for the article “The Carceral Contradictions of Motherhood: How Mothers of Incarcerated Sons Parent in the Shadow of the Criminal Legal System,” published in the February 2025 issue of American Sociological Review. The article’s co-authors are sociology Professor Kristin Turney and PhD candidate Suyeon Park Jang, both from University of California, Irvine.
The article draws on longitudinal interviews with 69 mothers of incarcerated sons, the study reveals how mothers navigate incarceration-related challenges through intensive caregiving while managing significant emotional, financial, and parenting burdens. The findings highlight the often-overlooked consequences of incarceration for mothers of adult children.
Christensen's research explores the role of digital technologies—both within the United States and cross-nationally — in shaping gender inequality across the life course. She approaches these issues using a range of methodologies, including latent class analysis, meta-analysis, and in-depth interviews, and draws on data that spans national and cultural contexts. She leads a range of courses, from graduate level sociology classes to undergraduate level courses, such as Sociology of Gender and Sociology of the Family.