Profile
Melinda D. Kane received her B.A. in sociology from Villanova University (1993) and her M.A. (1995) and Ph.D. (2000) in sociology from Vanderbilt University.
She teaches several undergraduate courses including Introduction to Sociology; Race, Gender, and Class; and Social Movements, as well as graduate level courses in Social Stratification and Social Movements.
All of Dr. Kane’s research and teaching interests stem from an overarching interest in stratification and inequality. Her primary research area investigates the relationship between social movements and the law, through studies of the gay and lesbian movement.
Social movements often target the law as a means through which to reduce inequality; yet, little is known about the ability of social movements to successfully challenge the law or the implications of legal success.
She is currently investigating the influence various forms of legal success have on the gay and lesbian movement’s later size and development.
She is also examining the conditions under which social movement legal organizations decide to participate in state-level appellate cases.
Finally, Dr. Kane is working on a project with Dr. Hayslett-McCall using geographic information systems to analyze the relationship between gay and lesbian residential concentration and neighborhood and resident characteristics.
Past Work Experiences
- 2000-2002
- Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of North Florida
Professional Organizations
- American Sociological Association
- Member of the Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements and the Section on Sexualities
- Member of the Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements and the Section on Sexualities
- The Southern Sociological Society
Courses
- SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology
- SOC 4355 Social Movements
- SOC/POEC 6350 Social Stratification
Research
Melinda D. Kane. October 2003. “Social Movement Policy Success: Decriminalizing State Sodomy Laws, 1969-1998.” Mobilization 8(3): 313-334.
Melinda D. Kane. Forthcoming 2007. “Timing Matters: Shifts in the Causal Determinants of Sodomy Law Decriminalization, 1961-1998.” Social Problems.
Karen L. Hayslett-McCall and Melinda D. Kane. 2006. “‘Out’ in Columbus: Neighborhood Level Variations in Gay and Lesbian Concentration.” Unpublished manuscript.
- Updated: October 16, 2006
