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New York Times Bestselling Author Dr. Arlie Russell Hochschild to Speak at Westminster College

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Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Dr. Arlie Russelll Hochschild, professor emerita of sociology from UC- Berkeley and one of the most respected sociologists working today, will speak about her most recent book, Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right, on Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. in the Wallace Memorial Chapel at Westminster College. The event is free and open to the public, and there will be a book signing following the lecture. 

A National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller, Hochschild's book tries to scale an "empathy wall" by immersing herself in the lives of Louisiana Tea Party supporters. She attempts to understand the "Great Paradox" by which individuals who have seen their physical environments and health seriously damaged by petrochemical and oil pollution nevertheless strongly resist government regulation. Hochschild finds that people's political convictions arise from strong feelings of a loss of honor and of alienation within American society. Westminster College will award Hochschild the Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, during the lecture. 

This lecture is sponsored by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies programs, Alpha Kappa Delta and SCION. Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right is available for purchase at the Westminster College Bookstore. 

For more information, contact Dr. Kristin Park at kpark@westminster.edu or 724-946-7251.