Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Political Sociology and Social Policy

Beth Gharrity Gardner, Ph. D.

Beth Gharrity Gardner
Photo: Beth Gharrity Gardner

 

Beth Gharrity Gardner is a sociologist who works at the intersection of politics, protest, and media. Her research reflects a longstanding interest in the institutional processes through which meanings are produced and contested. In addition to teaching courses on the mediated information environment and social movements, she is currently working on projects investigating Fridays for Future mobilization and the digital media strategies of political actors. 

Gardner earned her PhD from the University of California Irvine in 2016, under the supervision of Francesca Polletta, Edwin Amenta, and Evan Schofer. Her doctoral thesis analyzes the reportorial conventions for covering the abortion issue in the United States. Prior to joining the Chair of Political Sociology and Social Policy as a research associate in 2018, she worked as a visiting researcher in the Sociology Department and the Centre for Citizenship, Social Pluralism, and Religious Diversity at the Universität Potsdam.
 


Website

https://bethgharritygardner.com/


 

 

Publications


2020
  • Gardner, Beth Gharrity and Michael Neuber. “Climate Justice in a Populist Era: Grievance Politicization among Fridays for Future protestors in Germany,” Leviathan.
  • Sommer, Moritz, Sebastian Haunss, Beth Gharrity Gardner, Michael Neuber, and Dieter Rucht. “Wer demonstriert da? Ergebnisse von Befragungen bei Großprotesten von Fridays for Future in Deutschland im März und November 2019” [Who is demonstrating? Results of surveys among Fridays for Future protesters at large demonstrations in March and November 2019], Chapter 2 in Fridays for Future – Konturen der Massenproteste zum Klimawandel, edited by Sebastian Haunss and Moritz Sommer.
  • Neuber, Michael; Piotr Kocyba; Beth Gharrity Gardner. "Die Fridays for Future-Demonstrierenden im europäischen Vergleich" [The Fridays for Future protesters in European Comparison]. Chapter 3 in Fridays for Future – Konturen der Massenproteste zum Klimawandel, edited by Sebastian Haunss and Moritz Sommer.
  • Gardner, Beth Gharrity, Barbara Glickstein, Diana J. Mason, and Monica McLemore. “Using the Power of Media to Influence Health Policy and Politics.” In Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 8th edition, edited by Diana J. Mason. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
  • Neuber, Michael and Beth Gharrity Gardner. Germany. In: Joost de Moor, Katrin Uba, Mattias Wahlström, and Magnus Wennerhag (Eds.). Protest for a future II: Composition, mobilization and motives of the participants in Fridays For Future climate protests on 20-27 September, 2019, in 19 cities around the world. Retrieved from: https://osf.io/asruw/
  • de Moor, Joost; Katrin Uba, Mattias Wahlström, Magnus Wennerhag, Michiel De Vydt, Paul Almeida, Beth Gharrity Gardner…. Introduction: Fridays For Future – an expanding climate movement. In: Joost de Moor, Katrin Uba, Mattias Wahlström, and Magnus Wennerhag (Eds.). Protest for a future II: Composition, mobilization and motives of the participants in Fridays for Future climate protests on 20-27 September, 2019, in 19 cities around the world. Retrieved from: https://osf.io/asruw/
2018
  • Polletta, Francesca and Beth Gharrity Gardner. “The Forms of Deliberative Communication.” The Oxford Handbook of Deliberative Democracy, edited by André Bächtiger, John S. Dryzek, Jane Mansbridge, and Mark E. Warren. New York: Oxford University Press. (ISBN: 9780198747369)
  • Taylor, Steve, Boniface, M., Pickering, B., Grace, P., Bakir, V., Engesser, S., ... and Beth Gharrity Gardner. "Opinion Forming in the Digital Age." Zenodo. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1468576
2016
  • Gardner, Beth Gharrity, Diana J Mason, and Barbara Glickstein. “Using the Power of Media to Influence Health Policy and Politics.” Pp. 120-136 in Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 7thed., edited by Diana J. Mason, Deborah B. Gardner, Freida Hopkins Outlaw, and Eileen O’Grady. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. (ISBN: 9780323241441 0323241441)
  • Gardner, Beth Gharrity. Speaking for the Public: How the Media Constructed Controversy and Consensus About Abortion from 1972 through 1994. Doctoral Thesis. University of California, Irvine. (Merritt ID: ark:/13030/m5jx325v)
2015
  • Polletta, Francesca and Beth Gharrity Gardner. “Culture and Movements,” in Emerging Trends in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, edited by Robert A. Scott and Stephen M. Kosslyn. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons: 1-13. DOI: 10.1002/9781118900772.etrds0108
  • Polletta, Francesca and Beth Gharrity Gardner. “Narrative and Social Movements.” Pp. 534–548 in The Oxford Handbook of Social Movements, edited by Donatella della Porta and Mario Diani. New York: Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199678402.013.32
2013
  • Polletta, Francesca, Bobby P.C. Chen, Beth Gharrity Gardner, and Alice Motes. “Is the Internet Creating New Reasons to Protest?” Pp. 17-36 in The Future of Social Movement Research: Dynamics, Mechanisms, and Processes, edited by Jacquelin van Steklenburg, Conny Roggeband, and Bert Klandermans. Minnesota, MI: University of Minnesota Press. DOI: 10.5749/minnesota/9780816686513.003.0002
  • Gardner, Beth Gharrity. “Social Media,” entry in The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements, edited by David A. Snow, Donatella della Porta, Bert Klandermans, and Doug McAdam. Malden, MA: Wiley Blackwell Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470674871.wbespm487
2012
  • Amenta, Edwin, Beth Gharrity Gardner, Amber Tierney, Anaid Yerana Celina, and Thomas Alan Elliott. “A Story-Centered Approach to the Newspaper Coverage of High-Profile SMOs.” Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change, 33: 83-108. DOI: 10.1108/s0163-786x(2012)0000033007
2011
  • Polletta, Francesca, Bobby P.C. Chen, Beth Gharrity Gardner, and Alice Motes. “The Sociology of Storytelling.” Annual Review of Sociology, 37: 109-130. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-soc-081309-150106
2007
  • Gardner, Deborah, Mary Wakefield, and Beth G. Gardner. “Contemporary Issues in Government.” Pp. 622-646 in Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 5th ed., edited by Diana J. Mason, Judith Leavitt, and Mary Chaffee. St. Louis, MO: Saunders. ISBN: 1416023143.

 

 

Curriculum Vitae


10/2018-present
  • Research Associate, Chair of Political Sociology and Social Policy, Department of Social Sciences, Humboldt University-Berlin
05-09/2018
  • Research Consultant, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, 
  • George Washington University School of Nursing, Washington D.C. Work remotely. Research Project: “The Woodhull Study Revisited: Nurses Representation in Health News Media” (PIs: Prof. Dr. Diana J. Mason and Director of Communications and Media Projects, Barbara Glickstein).
03/2016-03/2018
  • Visiting Scholar, Department of Sociology and Centre for Citizenship, Social Pluralism and Religious Diversity, University of Potsdam, Germany. Research Fields: Migration and the Rise of Populism, Familial Pluralism and Religion. Course Instructor, Social Movements B.A.-level Sociology seminar (11.2016-03.2017).
11/2016-01/2017
  • Visiting Researcher, Centre for Citizenship, Social Pluralism and Religious Diversity, University of Potsdam, Germany. Research Project: “Exit, Voice, and Loyalty in Catholic Church Synod on the Family Surveys,” (PI: Dr. Bryan S. Turner).
03/2016-07/2016
  • Research Associate, Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center (AHEC), University of Hawaii. Research Project: “Health Systems EHR (Electronic Health Records)/HIT (Health Information Technology) Assessment Survey Report.” (PI: AHEC Director, Dr. Kelley Withy).
2008-2015
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Sociology, University of California, Irvine. Research Projects: “Culture and Narrative in Social Movements;” “Storytelling in Advocacy,” “Is the Internet Creating New Reasons to Protest?;” “Feminization of the Field of Public Deliberation; and “Trajectories of Cultural Objects” (PI: Dr. Francesca Polletta).
2013-2015
  • Managing Editor, Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 7th ed. Tracked and managed 92 manuscripts, and coordinated all communications between the editors, authors, publisher, and production manager. 
2010-2014
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Sociology, UC Irvine. Research Projects: “The Political Consequences of Voluntary Associations, 1970-2010” and “Voluntary Associations and Political Process in Comparative Perspective,” (PI: Dr. Evan Schofer). 
06-09/2012
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Sociology, UC Irvine, Research Project: “The Pictorial Framing of Occupy Wall Street in News Coverage,” (PI: Dr. David Snow).
2010-2012
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Sociology, UC Irvine, Research Project: “Political Organizations in the News (PONS),” (PIs: Dr. Edwin Amenta and Dr. Neal Caren).
2007-2008
  • Research Interviewer, Policy Research Associates. San Francisco County, CA research site. Research Project: “MacArthur Mental Health Court (MHC) Study,” (PIs: Dr. Henry J. Steadman and Dr. Allison Redlich). 
2006-2008
  • Research Assistant, Visitor Research and Evaluation Department, Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA. Research Projects (selection): “Group Inquiry by Visitors at Exhibits (GIVE)” (PIs: Dr. Sue Allen and Dr. Josh Gutwill); “Nanotechnology Discussion Forums” (PI: Veronica Garcia-Luis); “MIND Exhibitions Evaluation” (PI: Dr. Joyce Ma).

 

 

Education


2016

Ph.D. Sociology, University of California, Irvine, CA

2012

M.Phil. Sociology, University of California, Irvine, CA

2004

B.A. Sociology, with Honors, and Africana Studies, minor in History, New York University, New York, NY

 

 

Courses


WiSe 2020/21
  • BA-Seminar "Orders and Disorders in Contemporary Media Ecologies" (5 LP)
  • MA-Seminar "Twenty-First Century Social Movements and Mobilization" (5 LP)
SoSe 2020
  • MA-Lektüreseminar "The Politics of Dissent: Research & theorizing about social movements" (10 LP)
  • MA-Seminar "The Politics of (Dis)Information" (5 LP)
WiSe 2019/20
  • BA-Seminar "Online and Offline Political Communication" (5 LP)
  • MA-Lektüreseminar "The Politics of Dissent: Research & theorizing about social movements" (5 LP)
SoSe 2019
  • BA-Seminar "The Politics of (Dis)Information" (5 LP)
  • BA-Seminar "The Politics of Health and Welfare Systems" (5 LP)
  • BA-, MA- und Doktorandenkolloquium Politische Soziologie und Sozialpolitik (mit Dr. Andreas Schäfer)
WiSe 2018/19
  • BA-Seminar "Social Movements" (10 LP)
  • MA-Lektüreseminar "Mediated Politics" (10 LP)
  • BA-, MA- und Doktorandenkolloquium Politische Soziologie und Sozialpolitik (mit Dr. Andreas Schäfer)
WiSe 2016/17 (Department of Sociology, University of Potsdam)
  • BA-Seminar "Social Movements" (5 LP)
2008-2015 (Teaching Assistant, BA Seminars: Department of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA)
  • "Sociological Theory" Prof. Dr. Francesca Polletta (Sociology, Winter 2015, Spring and Winter 2014, Winter 2013, Spring and Winter 2012, Fall 2010)
  • "Computer-Based Research in the Social Sciences" Prof. Paul J. Morgan (Social Science course online Summer 2015)
  • "Sociology Majors Seminar: Transition to Adulthood,” Prof. Dr. Joy Pixley. (Fall, Spring 2011)
  • “International Sociology,” Prof. Dr. Evan Schofer (Sociology, Winter 2011)
  • “Race and Ethnicity,” Prof. Dr. Chuck O’Connell (Sociology, Winter 2009)
  • “US Foreign Policy I,” Prof. Dr. Ceasar Sereseres (Political Science, Fall 2008)

 

 

Selected Conference Contributions


2018
  • “Lifeworld Disruption and the Demand for Populist Mobilization: A different take on a dialogue between scholars of social movements and populism.” Invited talk presented at the Institute for the Study of Protest and Social Movements (ipb, Institut für Protest- und Bewegungsforschung), Berlin, ‘Politics from Below’ Colloquium, May 7.
2017
  • “Portraying the Popular Will: Rhetoric of “the people,” polls, and bystanders in mass media issue coverage.” Invited presentation on panel session (Populism, Performance, and the Media) at the Conference on Populism and Citizenship, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany, July 6-8.
2016
  • “Speaking for the Public: The reportorial construction of consensus and controversy in the American abortion debate.” Invited talk presented at the Centre for Citizenship, Social Pluralism and Religious Diversity, Lecture Series on Citizenship, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany, December 1.
  • “Joining the Fray? Journalists’ use and attribution of outrage rhetoric in abortion coverage.” Paper presented on panel session at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA. August 20-23.
2015
  • “Outrage Rhetoric in the Newspaper Coverage of the American Abortion Debate” Invited talk presented at the Young Scholars in Social Movements Conference, Center for the Study of Social Movements, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, May 2.
  • “Media and Movements.” Invited lecture for Social Movements Seminar, Sociology Department, University of Potsdam, July 8.
2014
  • “Guise of Neutrality: The Role of Neutral Discourse and Journalists in Framing the Abortion Debate” (w. E. Evans, Dr. M. M. Ferree, and T. Müller). Paper presented on panel session (Social Movements and Media) at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. August 16-19.
  • “The Body in Protest: Theoretical approaches and methodological challenges” (w. M. Neuber). Paper presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. August 16-19.
2013
  • “World Society, International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs), and Political Participation” (w. J. Kerrissey and Dr. E. Schofer). Paper presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY. August 10-13. 
  • “Staying Above the Fray: Journalists' use of neutral rhetoric in the Abortion debate” (w. E. Evans and Dr. M.M. Ferree). Paper presented on panel session at the Media Sociology Preconference of the ASA Annual Meeting, New York, NY. August 9.
2012
  • “Civic Associations and Protest: A cross-national comparison” (w. E. Schofer). Paper presented on panel session at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, August 17-20.
  • "Follow the Leader? The influence of the civil rights movement on the coverage of the feminist, antiwar, and supremacist movements, 1957 –1997.” Paper presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, August 17-20.
2011
  • “Voluntary Associations and Economic Inequality” (w. Dr .E. Schofer). Paper presented on panel session at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, August 20-23.
  • “Set in Stories: Standing and demands in the newspaper coverage of SMOs, and the Townsend Plan” (w. Dr. E. Amenta, A. Tierney, and T. Elliott). Paper presented on panel session at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, August 20-23.
2009
  • “Is the Web Creating New Reasons to Protest?” (w. Dr. F. Polletta, P.C.B. Chang, and A. Motes). Paper presented on panel session at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, August 8-11.

 

 

Professional Memberships


American Sociological Association (ASA)

  • Communication, Information Technologies, and Media Sociology (CITAMS, formerly CITASA), Collective Behavior and Social Movements (CBSM), Culture, Political, and Economic Sociology Sections

Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP)

  • Conflict, Social Action, and Change; Environment and Technology

Fembot Collective 

The Phi Beta Kappa Society