Asia Friedman, professor and associate chair of sociology in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, has been recognized with the 2026 Outstanding Service Award from the College of Arts and Sciences. The award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service and contributions to the university community. She was one of six faculty members who received an award this year.

Friedman serves as co-editor of Sociological Forum, a peer-reviewed quarterly journal, and is the author of multiple award-winning books. Her first book, Blind to Sameness: Sexpectations and the Social Construction of Male and Female Bodies, received the 2016 Distinguished Book Award from the Sex and Gender Section of the American Sociological Association. Her second monograph, Mammography Wars: Analyzing Attention in Cultural and Medical Disputes, received the 2024 Outstanding Book Award from the Social Problems Theory Division of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, as well as the 2025 Charles Horton Cooley Book Award from the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interactionism. 

In addition to her leadership and service, Friedman continues to contribute impactful scholarship to the field of sociology through research exploring gender and  health. Alongside her departmental colleague and co-author Ann Bell, Friedman has a new publication titled “Menopause: A Sociological Review” in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

The article examines menopause as a significant sociological topic that intersects with medicine, gender, family, work and aging. Although menopause affects millions of individuals worldwide, Friedman and Bell note that it remains one of the least studied female reproductive events in sociology compared to pregnancy, childbirth and menstruation.

Their review traces how menopause has been socially constructed and medicalized over time through medicine, media and popular culture. They argue that menopause is more than simply a biological process. Instead, they describe it as a “biosocial” experience shaped by social expectations, cultural attitudes and institutional systems, including healthcare and the workplace.

The publication also explores how social meanings surrounding menopause influence people’s experiences and broader conversations about aging and gender. Their review highlights important gaps in sociological research, including how menopausal experiences vary across race, class, sexuality and cultural background, as well as the need for more research examining healthcare providers’ knowledge and public understanding of menopause.

Friedman and Bell are also continuing research in this area through two new empirical studies examining contemporary menopause discourse. They are currently analyzing Instagram posts shared during Menopause Awareness Month in October 2025 to better understand the types of social media messaging women are encountering online. The project will be paired with interviews this summer with women’s healthcare providers to further examine how menopause is discussed, understood and addressed in healthcare settings.

This fall, Friedman and Bell will co-teach SOCI 267: Feminist Perspectives in Health, a new sociology course exploring topics such as sexual violence, body image, disabilities, reproduction, mental health and substance use through feminist perspectives and attention to social differences.

The course will feature a diverse range of guest speakers, including doulas, sex therapists, disability rights advocates, substance abuse counselors and health policy researchers, providing students with opportunities to connect sociological theory with real-world experiences and health issues.

Congratulations to Friedman on this well-deserved recognition and her continued contributions to research, teaching and service at the University of Delaware.