Caroline Hanley

Professor Caroline Hanley is a faculty member in the Sociology Department at the College of William & Mary, specializing in social stratification, inequality, and workplace dynamics. She teaches courses such as Wealth, Power and Inequality (SOCL 310) and Methods of Social Research (SOCL 352). Her research focuses on earnings inequality in the U.S., the role of race and gender in economic outcomes, and the societal perceptions of fairness in economic systems.

Key research interests include regional economic disparities, the impact of labor market structures on earnings, and the intersectional analysis of precarious employment. Her work often employs statistical and archival methodologies to understand long-term trends in inequality.

Professor Hanley’s recent publications explore topics such as the evolution of employment policies, the symbolic power of business climate narratives, and the racial-gender dynamics of low-wage work. Her scholarship bridges sociological theory with real-world policy implications, advocating for systemic reforms to address economic inequities.