AAPSS Seeks Papers on Mitigating Inequalities Spotlighted by COVID

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting nearly every area of household health, social, and economic well-being, individuals and communities across all parts of society are facing unprecedented challenges. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science invites papers for a special issue on strategies to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on exacerbating pre-existing inequalities.

The special issue. “The COVID-19 Shock to Our Deep Inequities: How to Mitigate the Impact,” will be edited by Michal Grinstein-Weiss, the Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis; Edward Lawlor, William E. Gordon Distinguished Professor Emeritus and special assistant to the provost at Washington University in St. Louis; and Carol Graham, Leo Pasvolsky Senior Fellow and research director of Global Economy and Development at The Brookings Institution.

Researchers in all relevant fields are encouraged to submit their work. The submission deadline for proposals is August 31, with a submission deadline for full manuscripts of October 31. Submit proposals to Grinstein-Weiss at michalgw@wustl.edu.

COVID-19 has brought to light pre-existing challenges, such as racial disparity, poverty, housing and food insecurity, a frayed safety net, and health care deficits, all of which have resulted in a disproportionate impact of the disease on individuals with socioeconomic disadvantages. The special issue is looking for the social and economic equivalent of intersectionality in the risks and consequences to this pandemic. For example, how has the combined jeopardy of immigration, employment, geography, and the weakness of the social sector created such catastrophic effects for meat industry workers? Or that both low-income minorities in the city and largely white populations in poor rural areas share the same additional risk of higher mortality from the virus, due to higher levels of pre-existing conditions and inadequate access to health care?

Importantly, submissions should not only acknowledge these challenges and disparities, but should also propose solutions to mitigate and eliminate these inequalities in the post-pandemic recovery.

Suggested topics for the special issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Governance response to COVID-19: how it affects inequality;
• Extreme poverty, homelessness, and COVID-19 impacts;
• Health, place, and COVID-19;
• COVID-19 and the American workforce;
• COVID-19, race, and financial security;
• COVID-19 and the social sector;
• Challenges for special populations such as immigrants, persons with disabilities, or children in the child welfare system;
• The lessons of COVID-19 nursing home deaths;
• Social isolation in the COVID-19 era;
• Racial disparities in COVID-19;
• COVID-19 and the criminal justice system;
• Class and racial gaps in intergenerational mobility, and COVID-19.

Proposals must receive approval from the editors before papers are submitted. Proposals should be around one or two pages in length, double-spaced, Times New Roman, font size 12. The proposal should include an abstract detailing the study, list of authors, and title. Authors should note how the proposed manuscript fits within the scope of the special issue.