Join SSSP!
Joining SSSP as a new member or renewing your existing membership offers many benefits including access to Social Problems which consistently ranks among the top journals in the social sciences, according to the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI).
Click here to join SSSP or to renew your membership.
Membership Information & Benefits
Learn more about the benefits of belonging to SSSP.
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Eligibility |
How to Join |
Want to know more about membership benefits? Click here for additional information.
Eligibility for Membership
Anyone who is interested in or already involved in the application of critical, scientific, and humanistic perspectives to the study of vital social problems. SSSP is an interdisciplinary community of scholars, practitioners, advocates, and students. If you are involved in scholarship or action in pursuit of a just society nationally or internationally, join SSSP. Membership is open to all who support SSSP's goals.
Membership Benefits
All SSSP members receive online access to the current and all previous issues of the journal, Social Problems. Members have the option of receiving hard copies of the journal for the membership year (back issues are not mailed for any issues already distributed). Each member will receive a FREE division membership and student members will receive two FREE division memberships. Members may choose additional divisions at $10 each. Membership in the divisions allows current members to vote in division elections and receive division newsletters. All current members receive a reduced rate to attend our Annual Meetings.
Oxford University Press is proud to partner with the Society for the Study of Social Problems to offer members a 25% discount across their wide range of titles! For more information, click here.
Divisions
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| What are divisions? Visit the Divisions page to learn more. |
Want to join a division after joining/renewing your membership? Additional divisions are available for $10 each. Click here for further instructions. |
Membership Dues
SSSP memberships are based on a calendar year and run from January 1 to December 31. Gross annual income should be used to determine the proper dues category. Please read all of the categories and select the one closest to your situation. Dues are payable to SSSP in U.S. currency. We accept checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Refund Policy: Membership dues are non-refundable.
- Life Members, Emeriti - Professor Emeriti who have been members for twenty or more consecutive years - $0
- Undergraduate/Graduate/Unemployed - for members who are working on their Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. in any discipline or are currently unemployed - $33
- Retired Member - for members who are retired - $50
- First Time Professional Member - for professionals who have not previously been members of SSSP, we invite you to take advantage of our 1 - year try us out membership - $50
- Professional Membership Categories based on Gross Annual Income:
$24,999 and under - $77
$25,000 - $34,999 - $99
$35,000 - $44,999 - $110
$45,000 - $54,999 - $132
$55,000 - $64,999 - $165
$65,000 - $74,999 - $187
$75,000 - $84,999 - $209
$85,000 - $99,999 - $231
$100,000 and up - $275 - Sustaining Membership - (formerly Life Membership) members enjoy all the benefits of SSSP membership without the annual dues - $1,870 (one-time fee)
- Departmental Membership - for those social science related departments who wish to receive the journal Social Problems and share 1 vote in business matters of the Society - $94
Mailing Fees for Members Living Outside the United States:
To help keep membership costs at a minimum, we ask that members outside the U.S. pay a mailing fee. For SSSP members who reside outside the United States, the mail fee is $20 for members with mailing addresses in Canada and Mexico and $30 all others. This fee is waived for members who opt out of receiving paper copies of Social Problems. Current and past issues of Social Problems are available electronically for members.
How to Join? We've made it easy!
You may apply online via our secure website or print the form and mail in your dues. Click the following link to apply online: JOIN SSSP New Memberships and Renewals. Fill out the form, submit, and you're done.
- Decide which Divisions you would like to join. Members and departmental memberships get 1 free and student members get 2 free, additional divisions cost $10 each.
- Find your membership and income category.
- Decide if you wish to contribute to one of the tax deductible funds that help support SSSP members (list and descriptions are below).
Complete the Membership Application Form and enclose payment.
If you choose to mail in your dues, it is just as easy. Just complete the online application. When you are done, you have the option to print an invoice, which you can mail or fax to the SSSP Administrative Office with your credit card information.
Committee Participation
Accessibility: The committee has the responsibility of developing and recommending to the Board of Directors and to the membership policies that will encourage and assure the full participation of disabled persons in the Society and in the larger community.
Arlene Kaplan Daniels Paper Award: The committee has the responsibility of selecting the best paper on Women and Social Justice.
C. Wright Mills Award: The committee has the responsibility of selecting among books nominated by individuals and/or publishers, the book(s) which are consistent with the C. Wright Mills’ nomination criteria as published annually.
Committee on Social Action: The committee has the responsibility of proposing social actions to the Board of Directors; clarifying and refining resolutions before resolutions are discussed by the Council of Division Chairs; and exploring ways that the Society can be more action oriented by connecting with organizations in local and global communities.
Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award: The committee has the responsibility of selecting a SSSP member who has exercised an extensive leadership role within the SSSP and other professional societies and within the larger community.
Elections: The committee has the responsibility of contacting the nominees, supervising the conduct of the general election and of referendums on policy and legislation, and certifying the results thereof.
Erwin O. Smigel Award: The committee has the responsibility of allocating funds to facilitate conference attendance by unemployed and underemployed sociologists.
Joseph B. Gittler Award: The committee has the responsibility of selecting a SSSP member who has significant scholarly achievement in contributing to the ethical resolution of social problems.
Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award: The committee has the responsibility of selecting an outstanding faculty member or community activist who demonstrates quality mentoring relationships for undergraduate or graduate students and/or for social activists, particularly for younger scholars and activists.
Lee Founders Award: The committee has the responsibility of selecting a SSSP member who has significant achievements that have demonstrated continuing devotion to the ideals of the founders of the Society and especially to the humanistic tradition of the Lees.
Lee Scholar Support Fund: The committee has the responsibility of allocating funds to facilitate conference attendance by non-U.S. based international scholars from politically, economically, and culturally oppressed groups in countries not considered part of the Global South).
Lee Student Support Fund: The committee has the responsibility of allocating funds to facilitate conference attendance by undergraduate or graduate students.
Permanent Organization and Strategic Planning: The committee’s duties are: a) performs a critical survey of the functioning of the Society; b) develops proposals for the improvement of the organization and operation of the Society; c) examines the distribution of functions between volunteer members and paid staff for more effective achievement of organizational objectives; d) initiates the process of planning for new goals and future development of the Society; e) reviews the maintenance of a system of permanent records and operating procedures; f) reviews the Society’s web site; g) conducts personnel evaluations of the Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, Meeting Manager, Information Technology Specialist, Administrative Assistant, and the Graduate Research Associate at each annual meeting.
Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship: The committee has the responsibility of selecting among the applicants, the top two deserving minority students to receive fellowship awards.
Social Entrepreneurship Paper Awards: The committee has the responsibility of selecting two papers for promising research centering social entrepreneurship and innovation.
Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award: The committee has the responsibility of selecting the most deserving non-profit social action organization in the city/local area hosting the annual meeting.
Tax Deductible Contributions*
Accessibility Services: Established in 2010 in order to help meet accessibility needs at the annual meeting.
Anti-Harassment Work: Established in 2019, this fund supports the work of the Anti-Harassment Committee to prevent and respond to harassment of SSSP members and conference participants.
Arlene Kaplan Daniels Paper Award: Established in 2015, this annual award is given to the author of the best paper on Women and Social Justice. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to pay a $500 stipend to the author.
C. Wright Mills Award: Established in 1964, this annual award is given to the author of a book published in the past year that best exemplifies outstanding social science research and an understanding of the individual and society in the tradition of the distinguished sociologist, C. Wright Mills. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to pay a $1,000 stipend to the author.
Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award: Established in 2015, this annual award is given to an outstanding faculty member who has exercised an extensive leadership role within the SSSP and other professional societies and within the larger community. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to pay a $500 stipend to the winner.
Erwin O. Smigel Award: Established in 1975 to expand employment opportunities in the field of sociology. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to develop information for unemployed and underemployed colleagues in their efforts to find work and to enable such colleagues to attend the annual meeting.
Indigenous Peoples’ Social Justice Award: Established in 2020, this annual award is to an organization (preferably an organization run by Indigenous or Aboriginal peoples) doing social justice work on behalf of Indigenous or Aboriginal peoples in the city or metropolitan area hosting the annual meeting.
Joseph B. Gittler Award: Established in 2007 by an endowment from the Joseph B. Gittler estate. This annual award is made in recognition of the significant scholarly achievements that a SSSP member has made in contributing to the ethical resolution of social problems.
Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award: Established in 2016, this annual award is given to an outstanding faculty member or community activist who recognizes the value of quality mentoring relationships between mentor and mentee and/or mentoring programs especially those for undergraduate or graduate students and/or for social activists, particularly for younger scholars and activists. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to provide three of the award winner’s mentees with a one-year SSSP membership as well as annual meeting registration for the year the award is presented.
Lee Founders Award: Established in 1981, this annual award recognizes significant achievements that consistently promote the ideals of the founders of the Society and especially to the humanistic tradition, as exemplified in the contributions of Alfred McClung Lee and Elizabeth Briant Lee. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to pay a $500 stipend to the winner.
Lee Scholar Support Fund: This annual fund was established in 1992 with a minimum of $2,000 from the Society’s funds. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to help bring non-US based international scholars from politically, economically, and culturally oppressed groups in countries not considered part of the Global South to the Annual Meeting.
Lee Student Support Fund: This annual fund was established in 1992 with a minimum of $2,000 from the Society’s funds. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to help defray the cost of conference participation for student members.
Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship: Established in 1995, this annual fund is given for support of graduate study and commitment to a career of scholar activism. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to provide fellowship to the winners.
SSSP General Fund: The money that is presently on deposit and future contributions will be used to fund activities of the Society.
Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award: Established in 1990, this award is given annually to an organization in the area where the Society holds its annual meeting. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to pay a $5,000 award to the organization selected that has a history of challenging social inequalities, promoting social change, and/or working toward the empowerment of marginalized people.
Transnational Initiatives Fund: This annual fund was established in 2020 with a minimum of $4,000 from the Society's funds. The designated funds and future contributions will be used to help defray the cost of conference participation for scholars located in those regions that fall under the definition of Global South. This includes economically disadvantaged countries and nation-states, as well as politically, economically, and culturally subjugated regions of all countries.
*The above uses for each fund are currently in place but are subject to change based on the Society’s needs as determined by the Board of Directors.
Sustaining Membership (formerly Life Membership): Established in 2000, this option allows members the opportunity to pay $1,870 for a sustaining membership. One hundred dollars of the $1,870 is recorded as dues payment in the year that the individual becomes a sustaining member. The remaining money that is presently on deposit and future contributions will be placed in an interest and dividend bearing account, and is not refundable or capable of being passed on to another person. The yearly dues of sustaining members will be paid from the account’s earnings.
Awards/Fellowships/Scholarships
The Arlene Kaplan Daniels Paper Award is for the best paper on Women and Social Justice. The C. Wright Mills Award is for an exceptional book published during the past year. The Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding faculty member who has exercised an extensive leadership role within the SSSP and other professional societies and within the larger community. The Erwin O. Smigel Award helps unemployed and underemployed colleagues attend the annual meeting. The Joseph B. Gittler Award recognizes the significant scholarly achievements that a SSSP member has made in contributing to the ethical resolution of social problems. The Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award recognizes the value of quality mentoring relationships between mentor and mentee and/or mentoring programs especially those for undergraduate or graduate students and/or for social activists, particularly for younger scholars and activists. The Kauffman Foundation Paper Awards recognizes two papers for promising research centering social entrepreneurship and innovation. The Lee Founders Award is for significant achievement in the humanistic tradition of the Lee's. The Lee Scholar Support Fund gives particular attention to scholars from economically disadvantaged countries where access to international exchange is often more limited to attend the annual meeting. The Lee Student Support Fund helps defray the cost of conference participation for student members. The Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship is given annually for support of graduate study and commitment to a career of scholar activism. The SSSP General Fund is used to support the broad purposes of the society, without restriction. The Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award is given to an organization working for social justice in the vicinity of the annual meeting.
For more information visit the awards page.
