Sociologist

Maura Kelly

I am a Professor in the Sociology Department at Portland State University.

As a public sociologist, I research inequalities in the construction trades and advocate to increase opportunities for women and people of color in the trades. My team’s evaluation research has assessed a variety of programs intended to increase the recruitment and retention of diverse workers in the trades, including the Highway Construction Workforce Development Program; RISE Up; Green Dot for the Trades; City of Seattle Acceptable Work Sites; Mentorship Matters; as well as pre-apprenticeship programs by Oregon Tradeswomen, Constructing Hope, and the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute.

Additionally, I am a feminist sociologist with interests in gender, sexualities, work and occupations, popular culture, and research methods. My research has assessed the experiences of queer and trans people, particularly in the context of work. I have also written about research methods in a variety of contexts, most extensively in my edited volume Feminist Research in Practice.

I teach a variety of graduate courses, including a seminar on gender inequality and courses on qualitative and mixed methods. At the undergraduate level, I teach courses on gender, sexuality, work, and popular culture.

New!

2024 Evaluation of the Highway Construction Workforce Development Program

Final report submitted to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation in 2024. FINAL REPORT.

FACT SHEET: Evaluation of Oregon’s Highway Construction Workforce Development Program Supporive Services

This fact sheet is based on evaluation research from the report titled 2024 Evaluation of the Highway Construction Workforce Development Program, which was submitted to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation in 2024. FACT SHEET.

FACT SHEET: Recruitment and retenTion of apprentices in the construction trades

FACT SHEETs

Impacts of Implementing Respectful Workplace Models on Construction Job Sites: Findings and Recommendations from Evaluation Research

This fact sheet summarizes PSU research on respectful workplaces completed to date. This fact sheet is based on evaluation research from reports submitted to Oregon Tradeswomen (2020), City of Seattle (2022), and TriMet (2022). FACT SHEET.

Videos

Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse Construction Workforce: Presentation for Interstate Bridge Replacement Program

I gave the talk below for the Interstate Bridge Replacement staff on May 17, 2023.

supporting A DIVERSE CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE: Findings and recommendations from evaluation research

I gave the talk below at the AGC DEI Council Education Session on June 30, 2022 (session begins at 7 minutes and 30 seconds). You can also find it on the AGC Oregon-Columbia Chapter YouTube Channel.

RETENTION OF A DIVERSE CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE

I gave the talk below at a Friday Transportation Seminar for PSU’s Transportation Research and Education Center on October 15, 2021. You can also find it on the TREC YouTube Channel

You can find additional videos for construction industry stakeholders on our research on the recruitment and retention of a diverse construction workforce on my YouTube Channel.

PODCASTS

“Inclusion and Worker Well-Being in the Trades” from the What’s work got to do with it? podcast From the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University.

“In Part 2 of the Inclusion and Worker Well-Being in the Trades series, we interview Tiffany Thompson, Director of Workforce Equity and Technical Assistance of Oregon Tradeswomen and Dr. Maura Kelly an Associate Professor of Sociology at Portland State University. Both Tiffany and Maura support, engage and help workplaces gain tools and provide education for respectful workplace programs. They provide program support and research opportunities to help build capacity, such as investing resources and time to contribute to cultural shifts needed on trade job sites.” 2022. PODCAST.

“Barbara Gurr and Maura Kelly on Feminist Research Methods” from the Give Methods A Chance podcast.

“In this episode, Barbara Gurr, Associate Professor in the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program at the University of Connecticut and Maura Kelly, Associate Professor of sociology at Portland State University, join us to discuss their co-edited book Feminist Research in Practice. Barbara and Maura discuss the qualities that make a methodology feminist, examine the relationship between a feminist approach and positivism, and help us understand why all researchers would benefit from considering some of the fundamental questions that feminist theory raises.” 2020. PODCAST.

Research reports

INTERSTATE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM (IBR) REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE MARKET STUDY

Co-authored with Clackamas Workforce Partnership, Estolano Advisors, Workforce Southwest Washington, and Worksystems Inc. (lead). Final report submitted to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program in 2024. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

2022 Needs Assessment for Oregon’s Highway Trades Apprenticeship

Co-authored with Dr. Molly Benitez, Portland State University. Final report submitted to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation in 2022. FULL REPORT.

2022 Evaluation of the Highway Construction Workforce Development Program

Final report submitted to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation in 2022. FULL REPORT.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Acceptable Worksite Trainings: Evaluation Conducted for the City of Seattle

Final report submitted to the City of Seattle in 2022. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Evaluation of Green Dot for the Trades for TriMet

Final report submitted to TriMet in 2022. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Evaluation of the June 2021 Carpenters Trade Preparation Pre-Apprenticeship Program at the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute in Tangent, Oregon

Final report submitted to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation in 2021. FULL REPORT.

2020 Evaluation of the Highway Construction Workforce Development Program

Final report submitted to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation in 2020. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Regional Respectful Workplace Model Review Committee Recommendations: Tools to Address Jobsite Culture in Construction.

Final report from Committee in 2020. FULL REPORT.

Evaluation of Mentorship Matters

Final report submitted to Sound Transit in 2020. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Evaluation of Green Dot for the Trades

Final report submitted to Oregon Tradeswomen in 2020. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Continuing to Build a More Diverse Workforce in the Highway Trades: 2018 Evaluation of the ODOT/BOLI Highway Construction Workforce Development Program

Final report submitted to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation in 2018. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Portland Metro Region Construction Workforce Market Study

Final report submitted to Metro and the City of Portland in 2018. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Evaluation of Pre-Apprenticeship and Retention Services in the Construction Trades in Oregon

Final report submitted to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation in 2017. FULL REPORT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. REPRINT in Skilling Up: The Scope of Modern Apprenticeship.

BOOK

Feminist Research in Practice is a supplementary text for undergraduate and graduate research methods courses. The book opens with a detailed examination of feminist methodologies and sociological research methods, followed by twelve chapters offering an in-depth analysis of six research projects. Invited scholars have each contributed two paired chapters: the first is data-driven and includes a description of methods and findings as well as analysis, allowing contributors to highlight their application of feminist methods and approaches in their work. In the second of each pair, contributors offer a close reflection on the research process, including obstacles and the emergence of new inquiries, allowing readers to deepen their own understanding of feminist research as it is practiced. The projects themselves are diverse in focus and approach with both large and small research teams working in varied communities and using an assortment of methods. Feminist Research in Practice closes with an extensive bibliography of recent and established research literature for further consideration.

ARTICLES

*Graduate student co-author

Arnold, Cameron* and Kelly, Maura. 2024. “Analyzing the Benefits and Limitations of Non-Degree Credentials: The Case of Oregon Apprenticeship” Journal of Labor Studies.

Kelly, Maura, Lindsey Wilkinson, Affiong Eyo-Idaho,* and Larry Williams. 2022. “Improving the Recruitment and Retention of Construction Apprentices through Oregon’s Highway Construction Workforce Development Program.” Journal of Applied Social Science 16(2):459-481.

Kelly, Maura, JaDee Carathers,* and Tristen Kade.* 2021. “Beyond Tolerance: Policies, Practices, and Ideologies of Queer Friendly Workplaces.” Sexuality Research and Social Policy 18:1078–1093.

Haeffner, Melissa, Dana Hellman, Alida Cantor, Jola Ajibade, Vinka Craver, Maura Kelly, Laura Schifman, and Lisa Weasel. 2021. “Representation Justice as a Research Agenda for Socio-hydrology and Water Management.” Hydrological Sciences Journal 66(11):1611-1624.

Kelly, Maura, Amy Lubitow, Matthew Town,* and Amanda Mercier.* 2020. “Collective Trauma in Queer Communities.” Sexuality and Culture 24(5), 1522-1543

Kelly, Maura and Lindsey Wilkinson. 2018. “Studying Inequalities in the Construction Trades Using a Mixed Methods Research Design.” SAGE Research Methods Cases.

Lubitow, Amy, JaDee Carathers,* Maura Kelly and Miriam J. Abelson. 2017. “Transmobilities: Mobility, Harassment, and Violence Experienced by Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Public Transit Riders” Gender, Place, and Culture 24(10): 1398-1418

Kelly, Maura and Gordon Gauchat. 2016. “Feminist Identity, Feminist Politics: U.S. Feminists’ Attitudes towards Public Policies” Sociological Perspectives 59(4): 855–872.

Kelly, Maura and Elizabeth Hauck.* 2015. “Doing Housework, Redoing Gender: Queer Couples Negotiate the Household Division of Labor” Journal of GLBT Family Studies 11:438–464.

Kelly, Maura, Lindsey Wilkinson, Maura Pisciotta,* and Larry S. Williams. 2015. “When Working Hard is not enough for Female and Racial/Ethnic Minority Apprentices in the Highway Trades.” Sociological Forum 30(2):415-438.

Kelly, Maura and Amy Lubitow. 2015. “Pride at Work: Organizing at the Intersection of the Labor and LGBT Movements.” Labor Studies Journal 39(4): 257–277. 2015, Vol. 39(4) 257–277

Kelly, Maura. 2015. “Feminist Identity, Collective Action, and Individual Resistance” Women’s Studies International Forum 48:81-92.

Kelly, Maura. 2014. “Knitting as a Feminist Project?” Women’s Studies International Forum 44: 133-144.

Gauchat, Gordon, Maura Kelly, and Michael Wallace. 2012. “Occupational Gender Segregation, Globalization, and Gender Earnings Inequality in U.S. Metropolitan Areas” Gender & Society 26: 718-747.

Kelly, Maura. 2010. “Control over the Reproduction and Mothering of Poor Women: An Analysis of Television News Coverage of Welfare Reform.” Journal of Poverty 14(1): 76-96.

Kelly, Maura. 2009. “Virginity Loss Narratives in ‘Teen Drama’ Television Programs” Journal of Sex Research 46:1-11.

Note: Articles may be behind a paywall. If you do not have institutional access, please email me for a copy.

BOOK CHAPTERS

*Graduate student co-author

Kelly, Maura. 2022. “Chapter 11: Mixed Methods Research” in Social Research Methods: Sociology in Action, edited by Catherine E. Harnois and Kristin Kenneavy. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Kelly, Maura. 2019. “Chapter 1: Putting Feminist Research into Practice” Pp. 1-11 in Feminist Research in Practice, edited by Maura Kelly and Barbara Gurr. New York City: Rowman and Littlefield.

Kelly, Maura. 2019. “Chapter 2: Overview of Sociological Research” Pp. 13-19 in Feminist Research in Practice, edited by Maura Kelly and Barbara Gurr. New York City: Rowman and Littlefield.

Kelly, Maura, Gordon Gauchat, Katie Acosta, Elizabeth Withers,* and Joyce McNair.* 2019. “Chapter 11: Does Science Do More Harm Than Good? A Mixed-Methods Analysis of African American Women’s Attitudes toward Science” Pp. 101-116 in Feminist Research in Practice, edited by Maura Kelly and Barbara Gurr. New York City: Rowman and Littlefield.

Kelly, Maura and Joyce McNair.* 2019. “Chapter 12: Doing Intersectional Mixed- Methods Feminist Research Pp. 117-121 in Feminist Research in Practice, edited by Maura Kelly and Barbara Gurr. New York City: Rowman and Littlefield.

Kelly, Maura, Lindsey Wilkinson, and Luis Nuñez.* 2019. “Evaluating Pre-apprenticeships in the Construction Trades in Oregon” Pp 148-160 in Skilling Up: The Scope of Modern Apprenticeship, edited by Ervin Dimeny, Deborah Williamson, Lisa Yates, and David Hinson. Urban Institute.

Burke, Mary and Maura Kelly. 2015. “The Visibility and Invisibility of Class, Race, Gender, and Sexuality in The Hunger Games” Pp 59-70 in Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Post-apocalyptic TV and Film, edited by Barbara Gurr. Palgrave McMillan.