CJ Pascoe is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Oregon where she teaches courses on sexuality, education, youth and inequality. Her current research focuses on how we can address gendered, raced, classed and sexual inequalities by reimagining the social life of schools

Dr. Pascoe's new book, Nice is Not Enough: Inequality and the Limits of Kindness at American High tells the story of American High School, a school characterized by acceptance, connection, and kindness—a school where, a prominent sign states, “there is no room for hate.” This book describes how American High, like many high schools, uses a “regime of kindness” to address persistent inequalities. By examining how this regime of kindness works at American High Nice is Not Enough shows the limits of this approach and suggests ways we might begin to dismantle systemic inequalities in high school and beyond. 

Her first book, Dude, You’re  a Fag:  Masculinity and Sexuality in High School, won the American Educational Research Association’s 2007 Book of the Year Award as well as an honorable mention for the American Sociological Association's Section on Sex and Gender’s Distinguished Book Award. Dude documents the relationship between homophobic harassment, heterosexism and masculinity in high school.  In it CJ suggests ways we might begin to redefine gender norms that are damaging to both boys and girls.

Dr. Pascoe has explored issues of gender based violence, young people’s new media use, bullying, harassment and education through a variety of research projects. Along with a team of co-researchers she authored Hanging Out, Messing Around and Geeking Out: Kids Living and Learning with New Media, a qualitative analysis of young people's new media use. Dr. Pascoe and Tristan Bridges edited comprehensive anthology of research on men and masculinity: Exploring Masculinities: Identity, Inequality, Continuity and Change. Most recently, along with Freeden Oeur she co-edited an anthology, Gender Replay: On Kids, Schools and Feminism that reflects on the legacy of the foundational text on gender and schooling, Gender Play: Girls and Boys in School by Barrie Thorne. Dr. Pascoe's books and articles have been translated into Chinese, Portuguese and German and reprinted widely.

Dr. Pascoe lectures widely to academic and public audiences on contemporary issues facing young people and schools such as bullying, harassment, gender inequality, and homophobia. Dr. Pascoe's research has been featured in documentaries and media outlets such as Frontline, The New York Times, National Public Radio, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic and Le Monde.  She has also worked with and advised various organizations such as The Born This Way Foundation, True Child, and The Gay/Straight Alliance Network to translate academic research into policy and programming for young people.

Before coming to University of Oregon, CJ taught at Colorado College. Previous to her time in Colorado, CJ spent two years working with the Digital Youth Project, part of the MacArthur Foundation’s initiative in learning and new media. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Brandeis University in 1996 and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2006.

Personal Website: http://www.cjpascoe.org/ 

Pascoe, CJ. (2023). Nice Is Not Enough. University of California Press.