WCPC Seminar - Laura McCloud
February 27, 2012
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
http://depts.washington.edu/wcpc/
"The Fragile American: Hardship and Financial Troubles in the 21st Century" LAURA MCCLOUD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Pacific Lutheran University SPEAKER BIO Laura McCloud is an assistant professor of sociology at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She received her Ph.D. in sociology at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio in 2010 and previously earned her M.A. in sociology at OSU and a B.A. in sociology at the University of Cincinnati. Her research pursuits are most broadly influenced by a desire to understand how individualized risk perpetuates social stratification. Most of her work to date specifically explores the relationship between debt and social class inequality. TALK ABSTRACT Rising economic insecurity at the turn of the 21st century made Americans increasingly vulnerable to financial distress. Studies of bankruptcy records show that personal hardships like health problems, divorce, job loss, and income disruption are the major reasons Americans fall into financial ruin. For this talk, I will present nationally representative data from the Survey of Consumer Finances to discuss the relationship between hardship and a range of financial troubles including bankruptcy, default, and credit access. I differentiate my analysis by class, expecting that debt troubles fall especially hard on middle-income families. I will argue that while the middle class is distinctly vulnerable, multiple financial troubles accompany hardship for all classes. Light refreshments served. ALL Welcome
For more information about this event, please contact WCPC via email or by phone at 206-616-2858.
This event is open to: students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, general public.