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Ļć½¶Ö±²„alumna to discuss research on women chefs, gender inequality in the professional kitchen

Ļć½¶Ö±²„alumna to discuss research on women chefs, gender inequality in the professional kitchen

Deborah Harrisā€™ ā€œTaking the Heat: Women Chefs and Gender Inequality in the Professional Kitchenā€ (Photo submitted/courtesy of Rutgers University Press)

Contact: Carol Gifford

STARKVILLE, Miss.ā€”A Mississippi State alumna returns to campus next month to discuss her work that has garnered media attention and favorable reviews.

Deborah Harris will discuss and sign copies of ā€œTaking the Heat: Women Chefs and Gender Inequality in the Professional Kitchenā€ (Rutgers University Press) on April 5 at The Mill at Ļć½¶Ö±²„beginning at 6 p.m.

The universityā€™s Department of Sociology, Gender Studies Program and National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center are sponsoring the presentation that is free and open to the public.

A Mississippi State doctoral graduate in sociology, Harris is an associate professor of sociology at Texas State University, where she studies gender dynamics in professional kitchens. She and Texas State colleague Patti Giuffre co-wrote ā€œTaking the Heat.ā€

ā€œI am extremely proud of Deborahā€™s work,ā€ said Domenico ā€œMimmoā€ Parisi, NSPARC executive director and sociology professor at MSU.

ā€œHer book has made her a star in sociology,ā€ he said.

The book includes an analysis of both food writing pieces and interviews with 33 women chefs to understand the historical and contemporary conditions experienced by women chefs, Harris explained.

ā€œWe are excited to have Dr. Harris share her research and new book on women and gender inequality in the professional kitchen,ā€ said Leslie Hossfeld, department head of sociology at MSU.

ā€œHer work has been cited widely and featured on National Public Radio. It provides important contributions to understanding gendered organizations. We are fortunate to have such an accomplished scholar join us on campus,ā€ she said.

Additionally, Harris will be meeting with Ļć½¶Ö±²„sociology students during her visit.

Ļć½¶Ö±²„is Mississippiā€™s leading university, available online at .