University of North Texas 
I enjoy my work because I think it gives me an opportunity to help remove the things
making people's lives more difficult. My research has been cited in proceedings of
the U.S. House of Representatives and is often used in policy documents. I regularly
provide briefings to policymakers and comments to journalists writing about social
issues. I also do some research that the public is not interested in, but which advances
sociological theory.
William (Buddy) Scarborough
Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies
Office: Sycamore 288C
Office Hours: M 11:00-2:00 and by appointment
E-mail Address: William.Scarborough@unt.edu
Highlights: Gender, Race, Stratification, Culture, Quantitative Methods, Data Science
Education: Ph.D., 2019, University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Interests: I am mostly interested in using research to diagnose and address social problems.
My primary contribution to these efforts is examining how local context creates the
conditions that exacerbate or reduce inequality. In my book, Gendered Places, I measure
the multidimensional nature of local gender norms across U.S. commuting zones and
identify how they shape patterns of gender inequality. Relatedly, I've spent considerable
time studying longitudinal change in individuals' attitudes and their implications
on the cultural foundations of racism and sexism. In another ongoing collaborative
project, I explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender and racial inequality.
And with collaborators in Chicago, I've conducted research that examines different
facets of structural racism and local forms of racial inequality. My current work
focuses on the relationship of structural racism to racial disparities in homelessness.
I am the Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate Advisor for the Department of Sociology.
In these roles, I support students' completion of their graduate degrees and the fulfillment
of their academic aims. I love working with students at UNT because we have a culture
of kindness, collaboration, and creativity. If you are interested in our graduate
programs, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Selected Publications:
Scarborough, William J. 2023. Gendered Places: The Landscape of Local Gender Norms Across the United States. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
Scarborough, William J., Caitlyn Collins, Liana Christin Landivar, Leah Ruppanner,
and Matt L. Huffman. 2023. "COVID-19 and the Role of Gender, Earnings, and Telecommuting
in Parents' Employment." Journal of Marriage and Family 85(5): 1007-1027.
Scarborough, William J., Joanna R. Pepin, Danny L. Lambouths III, Ronald Kwon, and
Ronaldo Monasterio. 2021. "The Intersection of Racial and Gender Attitudes, 1977 through
2018." American Sociological Review 86(5): 823-855.
Ruppanner, Leah, Caitlyn Collins, Liana Christin Landivar, and William J. Scarborough
(equal authors). 2021. "How do Gender Norms and Childcare Costs Affect Maternal Employment
Across US States?" Gender & Society 35(6): 910-939.
Scarborough, William J., Ray Sin, and Barbara J. Risman. 2019. "Attitudes and the
Stalled Gender Revolution: Egalitarianism, Traditionalism, and Ambivalence Between
1977 and 2016." Gender & Society 33(2): 173-200.
Recent Public Engagements:
I recently co-authored an article for Crain’s Chicago Business on demographic changes in Chicago and their implications for economic growth.
I'm quoted in a Crain's Chicago Business article on demographic changes in Chicago and their implications on economic growth.
I'm quoted in a Block Club Chicago magazine article about gentrification on the Southwest Side of the city.
I'm also quoted in this WBEZ NPR Chicago article about what the city can do to support the recent influx of immigrants.
My research was cited in the President's 2023 Economic Report to the US Congress.