Ellen Lamont

Dr. Ellen Lamont is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Appalachian State University's College of Arts and Sciences, where she examines how gender and sexuality shape intimate relationships across diverse contexts. Her work bridges academic research and public discourse, with findings featured in The Atlantic, BBC, and The New York Times.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Sociology, New York University
• M.A. in International Relations, University of Chicago
• B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of California, Berkeley

Her research investigates the tension between egalitarian ideals and traditional gender norms in dating, courtship, and family formation. Specializing in LGBTQ experiences, gendered parenthood, and hookup culture, she reveals how heteronormative frameworks persist even among progressive populations through ethnographic and survey methodologies. Her interdisciplinary approach connects micro-level relationship dynamics to macro-level social structures.

Recent publications trend toward analyzing resistance to heteronormativity in queer dating practices and the spatial dimensions of gendered inequality in Appalachia. Her book The Mating Game synthesizes decades of research on dating rituals, while journal articles in Gender & Society and Sociological Forum document evolving relationship scripts among college students and working-class families.

Scientific Awards:

• College of Arts and Sciences Academy of Outstanding Teachers (2018)
• Teacher of the Year (2019)
• Board of Governors Appalachian State University Excellence in Teaching Award (2024)

Dr. Lamont directs two major funded projects: an ethnography on gender and parenthood in family court, and a study of gender, work, and family in Appalachia supported by the American Sociological Association and University Research Council. Her teaching portfolio includes Sociology of Intimate Relationships, Constructions of Gender, and Women/Crime seminars, reflecting her commitment to mentoring students through Honors College interdisciplinary programs despite no specific advisees being listed in the source material.