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Selected Works

Deirdre M Bowen

Selected Works

Law and Society

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

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All That Heaven Will Allow: A Statistical Analysis Of The Co-Existence Of Same Sex Marriage And Gay Matrimonial Bans, Deirdre Bowen Apr 2013

All That Heaven Will Allow: A Statistical Analysis Of The Co-Existence Of Same Sex Marriage And Gay Matrimonial Bans, Deirdre Bowen

Deirdre M Bowen

This article offers the first analysis to date of national data evaluating whether defense of marriage acts (mini or super-DOMAs) preserve and stabilize the family. After finding that they do not—just as same sex marriage does not appear to destabilize families—the article analyzes what variables are, in fact, associated with family stability. Specifically, those variables are: families below the poverty line; men and women married three or more times; religiosity; percent conservative versus liberal in a state; disposable income; percent with bachelor’s degree; and median age of first marriage. Next, the article applies the sociological concepts of moral entrepreneurism and …


I Wanna Marry You: The Irrelevancy And Distraction Of Doma, Deirdre Bowen Feb 2013

I Wanna Marry You: The Irrelevancy And Distraction Of Doma, Deirdre Bowen

Deirdre M Bowen

This article offers the only empirical analysis to date of national data evaluating the claim that defense of marriage acts (DOMAs) preserve and stabilize the family. The article examines marriage and divorce changes in trends for every state over the last ten years for which data is available comparing changes, if any, before and after a DOMA was enacted or same sex marriage was permitted. After concluding that DOMA does not play a role in either divorce or marriage changes in trends or rates, the article explores what variables are, in fact, correlated with family stability. Given that poverty, religiosity, …


I Wanna Marry You: An Empirical Analysis Of The Distraction And Irrelevancy Of Doma, Deirdre M. Bowen Sep 2012

I Wanna Marry You: An Empirical Analysis Of The Distraction And Irrelevancy Of Doma, Deirdre M. Bowen

Deirdre M Bowen

This article offers the only empirical analysis to date of national data evaluating the claim that DOMAs preserve and stabilize the family. After concluding that DOMA is not associated with this goal, the article explores what variables are correlated with family stability. Next, the article explores moral entrepreneurism and moral panic as a theoretical explanation for DOMAs continued attraction. Finally, the article offers pragmatic recommendations for achieving family stability.


Ties That Bind: The Irrelevancy And Distraction Of Doma, Deirdre Bowen Sep 2012

Ties That Bind: The Irrelevancy And Distraction Of Doma, Deirdre Bowen

Deirdre M Bowen

This article offers the only empirical analysis to date of national data evaluating the claim that DOMAs preserve and stabilize the family. After concluding that DOMA is not associated with this goal, the article explores what variables are correlated with family stability. Next, the article explores moral entrepreneurism and moral panic as a theoretical explanation for DOMAs continued attraction. Finally, the article offers pragmatic recommendations for achieving family stability.


Ties That Bind: The Irrelevancy And Distraction Of Doma, Deirdre Bowen Sep 2012

Ties That Bind: The Irrelevancy And Distraction Of Doma, Deirdre Bowen

Deirdre M Bowen

This article offers the only empirical analysis to date of national data evaluating the claim that DOMAs preserve and stabilize the family. After concluding that DOMA is not associated with this goal, the article explores what variables are correlated with family stability. Next, the article explores moral entrepreneurism and moral panic as a theoretical explanation for DOMAs continued attraction. Finally, the article offers pragmatic recommendations for achieving family stability.


American Skin: Dispensing With Colorblindness And Critical Mass In Affirmative Action, Deirdre Bowen Feb 2011

American Skin: Dispensing With Colorblindness And Critical Mass In Affirmative Action, Deirdre Bowen

Deirdre M Bowen

This exploratory empirical work examines whether students of color enjoy the benefits articulated by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Grutter decision that rationalized the continuation of affirmative action based on diversity interests. Specifically, the Court stated that affirmative action was permissible because students of all backgrounds would increase their racial understanding and decrease their racial stereotyping of minorities. Neither side was happy with the decision—both skeptical that such benefits could transpire for minority students. Yet, in the heat of continuing debate, neither group has empirical support for their arguments until now. Using survey data of over 370 under-represented minority …


Grutter's Regrets: An Empirical Investigation Of How Affirmative Action Is(N'T) Working, Deirdre Bowen Aug 2010

Grutter's Regrets: An Empirical Investigation Of How Affirmative Action Is(N'T) Working, Deirdre Bowen

Deirdre M Bowen

This exploratory empirical work examines whether students of color enjoy the benefits articulated by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Grutter decision that rationalized the continuation of affirmative action based on diversity interests. Specifically, the Court stated that affirmative action was permissible because students of all backgrounds would increase their racial understanding and decrease their racial stereotyping of minorities. Supporters and opponents were skeptical that such benefits would really materialize for students of color. Supporters argued that minority students would merely be tokens in which only white students would benefit from a diverse classroom. Opponents argued that this diversity rationale …


Differential Power In Intact Same-Sex Families Based On Legal And Cultural Understandings Of Parentage, Deirdre M. Bowen Mar 2008

Differential Power In Intact Same-Sex Families Based On Legal And Cultural Understandings Of Parentage, Deirdre M. Bowen

Deirdre M Bowen

Do intact same-sex couples in which one member of the couple became pregnant with assisted reproduction or one member was the primary adopter, and the other member became a parent through second parent adoption understand the legal protections afforded them? In short the answer is no. An interesting family dynamic arises around who can claim the “true” status as parent based on their legal understandings of parenthood and their interactions with the dominant culture. While high profile custody cases on this issue have been decided in the United States with varying results, no research has examined the impact of uneven …