Studying the Gendered Implications of Relationship Ambiguity
Interests: Gender - Sexualities - Digital Technologies - Intersectionality - Intimate Relationships
Hi! I am an assistant professor of sociology at Utah Valley University. My research examines the gendered consequences of relationship ambiguity—situations where the status, expectations, boundaries, or trajectory of an intimate relationship are unclear. I focus on how micro-level relationship dynamics reify intersecting systems of oppression, such as gender, sexualities, race/ethnicity, and class. Through an in-depth qualitative approach, I uncover the implications of relationship ambiguity among two distinct populations: young adults and partners navigating incarceration. My interest in gender and intimate relationships has guided independent and collaborative research published in Sociological Perspectives, Criminology, and Sociological Compass.
About
I am a first-generation college student from Staten Island, New York. My academic journey began at the City University of New York (CUNY), Brooklyn College, through the SEEK program. It was there that I took my first sociology course and began using my sociological imagination to question the gendered social structures shaping my personal experiences.
I earned my PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine. I used in-depth interviews to investigate how digital technologies shape the gendered consequences of relationship ambiguity. I am extending this research to uncover how digital technologies (including dating apps, AI use, social media, and more) give rise to the “situationship”—a relationship form involving emotional intimacy while avoiding commitment or labeling—among young adults. While not teaching or researching, I enjoy hiking, knitting, watching movies, and cuddling with my cats, Monterey Jack & Cheddar.
