Research

My research reflects my interest in the dynamic relationship between family transitions and economic wellbeing, and I highlight the interactions between family structure, poverty, and welfare policy.  My work draws from three subfields of sociology; social demography, social stratification and social policy.  From the study of social demography I have adopted the focus on family transitions, and from the study of social stratification I have adopted the focus on social inequality.  The study of social policy adds an understanding of the historical-political context in which inequality between families is reproduced.

 2021-2022 Growing up in Poverty: Long-Term Effects of Childhood Poverty on Life  Chances, funded by the Israel National Insurance Institute, with Haya Stier 

This study sets out to examine the long term effects of childhood poverty on demographic and socioeconomic outcomes later in life.  We use matched census data with administrative data from multiple sources to create a longitudinal data base, and we study differences by gender and nationality.

2020 Poverty in Times of Corona, funded by MOST, Ministry of Science, with Michal Shamai

This study focuses on the way people living in poverty cope with the special challenges they encounter, resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic.  We interviewed clients of social services at two time points, and we interviewed social workers.  

2020-2023 Gendered Life Courses and Inequality among Older Adults, funded by Israel Science Foundation, with Haya Stier

This study examines the ways gendered life course events and the timing of retirement may translate into inequality in later adulthood.  We argue that women and men reach later adulthood by different routes and experience different events that affect economic outcomes later in life.  By examining gendered differences in life-course transitions and the interplay of family and work trajectories, this study sheds light on how gender inequality is perpetuated later in life. Also, it utilizes the concept of “linked lives” and will fill a gap in our understanding of how spouses’ life trajectories affect each other and how these effects are gendered.  We also adopt an intersectional approach to gender, age and education, thereby deepening our understanding of gendered ageism especially as refracted through different class positions. 

2015-2018 Gendered and Security, funded by Israel Science Foundation, with Amalia Sa'ar and Sarai Aharoni

This study explores perceptions and ethical configurations of national security in Israel from the standpoint of men and women from diverse backgrounds. This study also attempts to investigate the way women, and particularly mothers, articulate and make sense of ethical dilemmas in asymmetrical warfare, based upon their personal experiences of insecurity and dependency.

2013-2015 Social Protest and  the Poor, funded by MOST - the Ministry of Science, with Michal Shamai

The social protest that took place in Israel during the summer of 2011 was initiated and led by people from the middle class, who felt that the government's social and economic policy does not meet some of their basic needs, such as, housing, education, prices of food etc., issues with which the poor population struggle daily. Thus, it was a collective protest that included joint participation and demands of both middle and low social classes. However, in spite of the joint fight the voice of the poor population was hardly heard during the social protest. This study asks how the social protest resonates among people in poverty.  

2012-2014 Living Apart Together, funded by Israel Science Foundation

This study asks about the motivation to marry, to cohabit, or to live apart together (LAT) at different stages of the life course.   It also asks about levels of partnership quality and commitment in different types of intimate relationships.  Levels of commitment and partnership quality may affect people’s emotional wellbeing at different stages of their lives and may also affect the desire to make the transition to cohabitation and to marriage.  The study contributes to our knowledge on how intentions to marry and cohabit differ by age and gender, and how intentions translate to behavior.