Rosanna Hertz is an American sociologist and academic whose research focuses on family structures, gender studies, and the intersection of work and domestic life. She is the Class of 1949 Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Sociology at Wellesley College, where she has served as the chair of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department.
Academic Background
Hertz earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and subsequently received her Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Sociology from Northwestern University. Her scholarship is characterized by the use of qualitative methods to explore how social and economic changes influence personal relationships and the organization of the household.
Research and Publications
Hertz’s work often examines the evolution of the modern family in response to shifting economic realities and technological advancements. Her major publications include:
- Working Families: The Transformation of the American Home (1986): This study explored the lives of dual-career couples, examining how they navigated the challenges of balancing professional responsibilities with childcare and domestic labor.
- Single by Chance, Mothers by Choice (2006): In this work, Hertz investigated the growing trend of women choosing to become single parents through adoption or donor insemination, analyzing the social and legal implications of these family structures.
- Random Families: Genetic Strangers, Sperm Donor Siblings, and the Creation of New Kin (2018): Co-authored with Margaret K. Nelson, this book examines how commercial DNA testing and online registries have enabled donor-conceived individuals to find genetic relatives, thereby redefining traditional concepts of kinship and family.
Professional Contributions
In addition to her teaching and research at Wellesley College, Hertz has been a Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. She has served as a consultant and commentator on issues related to childcare policy, workplace flexibility, and the sociology of the family. Her work is frequently cited in academic discourse regarding the sociology of gender and the changing nature of American social institutions.
