Mahesh Somashekhar
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msoma.bsky.social
Mahesh Somashekhar
@msoma.bsky.social
Asst Prof of Sociology at the U of Illinois-Chicago studying urban inequality, economic development, and gentrification. Supporter of small businesses until the end. http://maheshsomashekhar.com.
HAPPENING TODAY! Learn how to protect yourself from doxxing at the event below. The event caters to academics but is relevant to anyone concerned about being doxxed.
October 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
If you or someone you know is a Chicago-area parent whose children are between 5 and 15, please consider taking part in this study to share your experiences parenting during COVID! As someone who parented during the pandemic, I know I have lots of stories I can share.
September 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In addition to other concerns facing universities, a new one is emerging: another demographic cliff is expected after the current one. "Latest available census figures now project another drop in the number of 18-year-olds beginning in 2033, after a brief uptick." hechingerreport.org/the-impact-o...
February 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I love graphs made by The Economist. Here are 2 from their”Big Mac Index.” You can compare proportions relative to the proportion for a base group (like Whites), much like the price of a Big Mac indexed to the U.S. price.
December 9, 2024 at 7:43 PM
White and non-White displacees are similarly renters, single, etc. But, White displacees are richer and leave wealthier neighborhoods. On average, their *destination* neighborhoods are richer than the *origin* neighborhoods of non-White displacees.
December 2, 2024 at 7:30 PM
We now have data that confirms what many suspected:

Academics who left Twitter have tried to create robust communities elsewhere but remain fractured.

Rather than sulk, I hope this encourages others to redouble their efforts to get folks on Bluesky! arxiv.org/abs/2309.126...
September 24, 2024 at 5:46 PM
White and non-White displacees are similarly renters, single, etc. But, White displacees are richer and leave wealthier neighborhoods. On average, their *destination* neighborhoods are richer than the *origin* neighborhoods of non-White displacees
August 19, 2024 at 10:08 PM
Excited to announce my forthcoming article at Social Problems on what happens to White people displaced from gentrified neighborhoods. TL;DR: they are demographically similar to non-White displacees but end up in better-off neighborhoods tinyurl.com/2h9ckznn
August 19, 2024 at 10:07 PM
I am absolutely appalled the @nytimes.com is not showing confidence intervals in this graph. It’s like they learned nothing from the 2016 election.
August 18, 2024 at 10:02 AM
Come to #ASA2024 for the rain, but stay for my presentation on the growing infrastructure of retailers and other firms that cater to Christian Nationalist consumers. Saturday @ 4pm in 517C!
August 10, 2024 at 1:28 PM
My study shows that, in rental ads found in mixed-income neighborhoods, mentions of home security are over-represented. The finding is driven by the kinds of home security found in expensive apartment buildings, like door attendants, concierges, and access control systems.
August 5, 2024 at 12:21 PM
Despite the creation of groups like ACT UP, AIDS decimated the larger infrastructure of queer organizations built in cities like San Francisco and New York. Outside of these cities, queer communities were forced to build new organizations to respond to the devastation of AIDS.
May 30, 2024 at 2:36 PM
UIC Sociology is seeking a VAP who focuses on the sociology of health and illness. The application deadline is April 30th, so apply soon! I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
April 17, 2024 at 6:13 PM
If you'll be at #PAA2024, come see my talk on what happens to White residents displaced from gentrified neighborhoods. Their experience speaks volumes about how gentrification works as a social process and how it harms existing residents. @popassocamerica.bsky.social
April 16, 2024 at 5:20 PM
Steven Levitt has decided to retire from academia, and he has some pointed words for academics as he walks out the door... (h/t @Jon_Hartley_ on X)
March 21, 2024 at 5:19 PM