FYI.
Open Call for Proposals for the Journal of Social Issues (JSI)
“Stigma and Social Relationships”
Issue Editors: Drs. David Matthew Doyle & Manuela Barreto
Proposals due May 31, 2021
Dating back to Goffman’s (1963) ground-breaking treatise on social stigma, researchers have increasingly attended to the “target’s perspective” in research on prejudice and discrimination. That is, researchers have examined how exposure to social stigma influences diverse outcomes, including mental and physical health (e.g., JSI volume 73, issue 3). Much past work on stigma has centered on its intrapersonal sequelae, including minority coping strategies (e.g., JSI volume 73, issue 4). Only more recently have researchers begun to investigate interpersonal consequences, such as how stigma impacts romantic relationships, relationships with fellow ingroup members or broader social networks. The Journal of Social Issues (JSI) and special issue editors seek proposals for a special issue on “Stigma and Social Relationships.” The aim of this special issue is to survey the current landscape on stigma and social relationships and highlight paths into the future of this area of work. This collection will include cutting-edge scholarship on the ways in which being a member of a socially stigmatized group can affect interpersonal outcomes, ranging from close relationships (e.g., within families, romantic relationships), to in-group friendship ties and broader social functioning (e.g., experiences of social integration and isolation, community engagement).
Limited prior work focusing on interpersonal sequelae of social stigma has examined intergroup perceptions or interactions (Frable, Blackstone, & Scherbaum, 1990; Richeson & Shelton, 2007; Vorauer, 2006) or group-level rather than interpersonal social connections (e.g., in-group identification; Branscombe, Schmitt, & Harvey, 1999). In each of these lines of research, the intergroup context was at the fore. In this special issue, we aim to complement this work by focusing, instead, on how social stigma affects interpersonal outcomes as described above, rather than interactions with the dominant group, or group-level outcomes.
Therefore, we seek proposals for papers that investigate a variety of topics, including but not limited to A) disparities in social relationship quality, quantity, or structure between members of dominant and devalued groups, B) processes by which stigmatized identities lead to changes in social functioning, and C) sociocultural, political and contextual factors that shape how stigma influences social relationships.
We welcome proposals utilizing quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods approaches in addition to empirical or theoretical reviews of the literature and conceptual pieces. Ideally, this special issue will cover research with members of a variety of stigmatized groups (e.g., sexual, racial/ethnic or gender minorities; lower SES people; older adults; women; people with disabilities or chronic mental or physical illnesses). We are also particularly interested in research employing an intersectional lens and novel methods (e.g., dyadic or social network analyses).
If you are interested in contributing to this special issue, please submit a detailed abstract of 3-6 pages in length along with short author biographies (no more than half a page in addition to the abstract) to d.doyle@exeter.ac.uk by May 31, 2021. The detailed abstract should conform to the 7th edition of the APA style manual. For empirical reports, the abstract should include descriptions of the sample, methodology (including power analyses, where relevant), and primary results. Authors reporting qualitative research should consider COREQ or SRQR guidelines. Authors of mixed methods papers should consider the MMARS standards when preparing their abstracts. For review articles, the abstract should include a discussion of criteria for inclusion and primary conclusions. Authors should contextualize their work in its cultural/national context and cite relevant work by authors or with samples from underrepresented groups (see e.g., these helpful guidelines). Authors from underrepresented or stigmatized groups are especially encouraged to apply. All submissions should include some consideration of implications for and applications to social policy. The special issue editors will aim to make decisions regarding abstracts to be included in the special issue proposal by June 30, 2021. After consideration by the JSI editorial board, feedback will be given on all accepted abstracts and full papers will be invited to be submitted by October 31, 2021 for potential inclusion in the final special issue.
Click here to read this call for proposals on SPSSI’s website.