Mirra Komarovsky
Encyclopedia
Mirra Komarovsky a pioneer in the sociology of gender.
Coming from a privileged Jewish family in Czarist Russia, her family fled the country after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Komarovsky’s parents were Zionists and landowning Jews in Akkerman, Russia, until tsarist police drove them from their home. They moved initially to Baku (in what is now Azerbaijan) and then to Wichita, Kansas after the Bolshevik Revolution, when Mirra was 16. In Baku, Komarovsky lived a solidly middle-class lifestyle; she was homeschooled by private tutors and learned Russian, English, Hebrew, and French, as well as playing the piano. Once in the United States, she graduated from Wichita High School within a year and was admitted to Barnard’s Class of 1926. Her advisor in college advised her not to pursue higher education, largely because of the prescribed gender roles at the time. Nonetheless, she earned her Master's Degree from Columbia University and proceeded to earn her Ph.D.
at the New York Institute for Social Research, was “The Unemployed Man and His Family." She earned her Ph.D in Sociology
in 1940 because of this work. Later published as a book, The Unemployed Man was an intensive study of fifty-nine families in the qualitative sociological method.
Komarovsky built her legacy on researching the social and cultural attitudes of families. Much of her work focused on the idea of “cultural lag,” in which the cultural attitudes surrounding women generally lag behind technological and social advances. Throughout the rest of her career, she continued to study the role of women and the outlooks of society towards those roles. She became one of the first social scientists to look critically at gender and the role of women in society.
Professor Komarovsky retired in 1970 after 32 years on the faculty of Barnard College
. But she returned to Barnard in 1978 and became the chairwoman of its women's studies program for a time.
In 1973 and 1974, she became the second women to be president of the American Sociological Association
.
Coming from a privileged Jewish family in Czarist Russia, her family fled the country after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Komarovsky’s parents were Zionists and landowning Jews in Akkerman, Russia, until tsarist police drove them from their home. They moved initially to Baku (in what is now Azerbaijan) and then to Wichita, Kansas after the Bolshevik Revolution, when Mirra was 16. In Baku, Komarovsky lived a solidly middle-class lifestyle; she was homeschooled by private tutors and learned Russian, English, Hebrew, and French, as well as playing the piano. Once in the United States, she graduated from Wichita High School within a year and was admitted to Barnard’s Class of 1926. Her advisor in college advised her not to pursue higher education, largely because of the prescribed gender roles at the time. Nonetheless, she earned her Master's Degree from Columbia University and proceeded to earn her Ph.D.
Komarovsky as a Sociologist
Komarovsky's dissertation topic, which she stumbled upon in 1935 through a research position with mathematician Paul LazarsfeldPaul Lazarsfeld
Paul Felix Lazarsfeld was one of the major figures in 20th-century American sociology. The founder of Columbia University's Bureau of Applied Social Research, he exerted a tremendous influence over the techniques and the organization of social research...
at the New York Institute for Social Research, was “The Unemployed Man and His Family." She earned her Ph.D in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in 1940 because of this work. Later published as a book, The Unemployed Man was an intensive study of fifty-nine families in the qualitative sociological method.
Komarovsky built her legacy on researching the social and cultural attitudes of families. Much of her work focused on the idea of “cultural lag,” in which the cultural attitudes surrounding women generally lag behind technological and social advances. Throughout the rest of her career, she continued to study the role of women and the outlooks of society towards those roles. She became one of the first social scientists to look critically at gender and the role of women in society.
Professor Komarovsky retired in 1970 after 32 years on the faculty of Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
. But she returned to Barnard in 1978 and became the chairwoman of its women's studies program for a time.
In 1973 and 1974, she became the second women to be president of the American Sociological Association
American Sociological Association
The American Sociological Association , founded in 1905 as the American Sociological Society , is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the discipline and profession of sociology by serving sociologists in their work and promoting their contributions to serve society.The ASA holds its...
.