Hello Bookworms; in defiance of my usual literary content, today’s post is in conversation with one of my favourite professors. Albeit an author herself, Dr. Tina Fetner is the President of the Canadian Sociological Association and an associate professor at McMaster University. In my first year, long before I settled on pursuing a sociology minor, I had my heart set on taking one class. The content of the Sociology of Sexualities enticed me, but ultimately, Tina’s teachings cemented my interest in sociology.

---

When did you begin teaching at McMaster University?

I started at McMaster in 2004, so I’ve been here 19 years.

How can an academic discipline like Sociology be life-changing?

Good question. I think the most important thing a sociological perspective does is help us see the patterns that shape our social world. So instead of thinking of inequalities, for example, as problems of individuals, we can see the social forces that combine to contribute to inequalities.

Another thing about sociology is that, as a social science, it is dedicated to accurately capturing these patterns through rigorous data collection and analysis. So we all have the benefit of all the research that sociologists have done to describe the inequalities of our world, so we can know how bad it is and if/when things improve or get worse over time.

Did studying sociology drastically alter the way you perceived yourself or others?

Like so many of my students, I was drawn to sociology because I care about people being treated fairly. What I learned from sociology gave me the tools to see the bigger picture.

Do you believe sociology is an area that every student should explore?

I certainly think that sociology is a worthy area of study, but I think other areas of study are also important! But I would recommend to each student that as they choose their own path not to discount the things they care about as they select classes. Students these days are under such pressure to find their way to a career, and they may not know that majors like sociology include important skill building that can also lead to great careers. It’s possible to have it all.

What do you consider your most significant research accomplishment?

My first book was about the rise of anti-LGBTQ activism in the United States, and in this cultural moment, I hope the insights I developed there are useful today. Strong opposing movements do serious harm, but they do not have to have the last word, and social movements in favour of human rights, inclusion, and justice can survive a backlash movement and continue on with their work.

That is perhaps my most significant piece of research, but I’m perhaps even more excited about my current research project, which examines the social patterns of sexual behaviour, revealing the many ways that social forces nudge us into social contexts that shape our sexual behaviour. My book on this topic, Sex in Canada, will come out in February. We don’t often think of people having unequal access to sexual activity based on social forces, but perhaps we should, as the social contexts that shape our lives (gender, sexual identity, education, etc.) also shape our sexual behaviour, too.

How did you decide to become a professor? Was there a particular desire to teach and continue learning that led you down this path?

I was inspired by the sociology professors I learned from when I was in university. It was only after seeing the work that they do, and reading much more by others, that I wondered if I too might be able to try to become a professor. I was hooked on learning, and I just wanted to learn more and more, so I applied to graduate school and landed into a life where learning is my job. I have to say that I have been very lucky to find my way to this role. Even as I’ve worked quite hard, there were many moments when luck tipped my way, and I’m grateful to be in this role.

Is there a secret to being a good professor? I immensely enjoyed your class, and it wasn’t solely the lecture content that made it memorable.

Oh my goodness! I appreciate your kind words so much. I have learned so much from my own professors, as well as so many colleagues over the years. I am inspired by the students, whose enthusiasm for this material is such a joy. I love what I do, and I love the content of the courses I teach, and then I get to see the students’ excitement for discovering the ideas that I care about. What could be better than that?

Do you have an ultimate goal in life?

I’d have to say no, I don’t have one ultimate goal. I think what I am learning as I get older is that you have to put work into building a good life for yourself, and that requires many more than one thing. I am so lucky that I have meaningful work, and I am equally grateful for my family and friends. Perhaps one day I’ll have more opportunity to participate in the activism that I know will be required for us to shift course toward a more just and sustainable future.  If I have learned anything from all of my studies, it is that people have to come together in a sustained way for positive change to occur.

Do you find that your profession and area of specialization are even more critical in times of disruption? Such as during the pandemic or strikes (such as ones on campus).

In the last decade or so, I’ve seen sociologists make a real difference, whether it is by shaping policy changes like student debt forgiveness in the US, or adding a nonbinary gender category to the census in Canada. The work that sociologists do is very valuable, but policy makers do not always pay attention to us. I am hopeful that these recent examples are just the tip of the iceberg, as we do have important insights to share.

Are there any texts you would recommend to students interested in sociology? Or, similarly, are there any resources that could aid in demystifying the complexity that some fear when they think of sociology?

There are so many good books out there right now! I particularly recommend ones that are written with a general audience in mind. Let me recommend the three recent books we are featuring in our “Banned in Florida” speaker series at McMaster Sociology this year:

Kelsy Burke, The Pornography Wars: The Past, Present, and Future of America’s Obscene Obsession (Bloomsbury, 2023)

CJ Pascoe, Nice is Not Enough: Inequality and the Limits of Kindness (University of California Press, 2023)

Victor Ray, On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters and Why You should Care. (Penguin Random House, 2023)

---

Check out Dr. Fetner’s book, How the Religious Right Shaped Lesbian and Gay Activism, examining the rise of the anti-LGBT religious rise in the United States.

Thanks for reading!