I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, Stanford University.
My main research interests lie in the sociology of education and social inequality, with a focus on understanding the power and persistence of socioeconomic background in shaping life chances in late industrial societies.
In my forthcoming book, The Division of Rationalized Labor, I examine changes in the division of labor in the United States over the past 150 years. Specialization is expected to push workers into ever-narrower roles. Yet evidence shows that many specialized occupations have actually become more complex. My book seeks to untangle this paradox, arguing that scientific efforts to solve social and industrial problems have often imposed new tasks on workers—ultimately complicating, rather than simplifying, their jobs.
My last book, Manifesto for a Dream, asks how social scientists should best tackle inequality of opportunity.
mvjsoc@stanford.edu
Stanford University
Sociology Department MC 2047
Main Quad - 450 Serra Mall
Building 120, Room 160
Stanford, CA 94305-2047