Joanna Pepin

Researcher

University of Toronto

Contact Details

• website
• j.pepin@utoronto.ca

Dr. Pepin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto. Prior to this position, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Population Research Center at the University of Texas – Austin. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Maryland. She also holds an M.S. degree in Human Development and Family Studies.

As a family sociologist, she explores how couple and family relations reproduce and protect against inequality. Dr. Pepin’s current projects investigate what constitutes an “equal” relationship and how work and family arrangements relate to mental health.

Her research has examined trends in attitudes and behaviours related to the distribution of resources within families, such as who does the housework, who works for pay, and how couples divide family responsibilities. Other projects focus on women’s economic contribution to their households and how couples share or don’t share their earnings. Another research stream explores how historical time and place contribute to gender inequality within families and the growing divergence in outcomes among women.

Dr. Pepin’s research has appeared in the American Sociological Review, Demography, and the Journal of Marriage and Family. She prioritizes engaging with public audiences, frequently translating her research findings for a general audience and offers commentary on family related research and public policy issues in the news. Her research has been covered by news outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine, and The Guardian.