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{{short description|American sociologist}}
{{Infobox academic
| name =Kathleen M. Blee
| image =
| image_size = 230px
| caption =
| birth_date ={{birth date and age|1953|03|27}}
| birth_place =Indiana, USA
| death_date =
| education =BA, 1974, [[Indiana University]] <br> MS, PhD, [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]
| thesis_title =The effect of occupational and marital mobility upon political orientation
| thesis_year =1976
| spouse =
| children =
| awards =
| website =
| workplaces =[[University of Pittsburgh]] <br> [[University of Kentucky]]
}}
'''Kathleen Marie Blee''' (born March 27, 1953) is an American sociologist. She is a Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the [[University of Pittsburgh]]. Her areas of interest include gender, race and racism, social movements, and sociology of space and place. Special interests include how gender influences racist movements, including work on women in the [[Ku Klux Klan]] in the 1920s.

==Early life and education ==
Blee was born on March 27, 1953.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blee, Kathleen M. |url=https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n90683093.html |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=February 17, 2023}}</ref> She grew up in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] to a Roman Catholic family<ref name="Smith">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Dinitia |title=The Women Behind The Masks Of Hate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/26/books/the-women-behind-the-masks-of-hate.html |access-date=February 17, 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=January 26, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214123941/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/26/books/the-women-behind-the-masks-of-hate.html |archive-date=December 14, 2014}}</ref> and attended catholic school before enrolling at [[Indiana University]] for her [[Bachelor's degree]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Book profiles Indiana Klanswomen in '20s |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118866671/book-profiles-indiana-klanswomen-in-20s/ |access-date=February 17, 2023 |publisher=Evansville Courier and Press |date=July 27, 1991|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> After graduating with a degree in sociology in 1974, she completed her [[Master's degree]] and PhD in the same topic from [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]].<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Kathleen Blee |url=https://www.as.pitt.edu/about/kathy-blee |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023}}</ref>

==Career==
Upon completing her PhD, Blee accepted a faculty position at the [[University of Kentucky]] (UK) in 1981. While at UK, she served as Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences and as Director for the Women's Studies Program.<ref name="bio"/> During this time, Blee began to study the emergence of women in the [[Ku Klux Klan]] (KKK) following [[World War I]] after coming across a brochure in favor of women’s suffrage published by the KKK.<ref name="Smith"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sajna |first1=Mike |title=Pitt researcher dispels many myths about KKK's members |url=https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=5301 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=April 3, 1977}}</ref> In 1987, she began writing a book about the role of women in the KKK in Indiana during the 1920s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCord |first1=Tom |title=Sociologist studies Klan women |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118865762/sociologist-studies-klan-women/ |access-date=February 17, 2023 |publisher=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=March 14, 1987|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> While researching for the book, she interviewed numerous women who were dedicated members of the KKK.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Bill |title=Books of The Times; The Klan Behind the Hoods and the Torches |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/10/archives/books-of-the-times-the-klan-behind-the-hoods-and-the-torches.html |access-date=February 17, 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=July 10, 1991 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217191650/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/10/archives/books-of-the-times-the-klan-behind-the-hoods-and-the-torches.html |archive-date=February 17, 2023}}</ref> The book, Women in the Klan: Racism and Gender in the 1920s, was eventually published by the [[University of California Press]] in 1991.<ref name="Smith"/>

Blee eventually left UK in 1996 to accept a professorship position at the [[University of Pittsburgh]]'s (UPitt) Department of Sociology. She also served as the Director of UPitt's Women's Studies Program from 1996 to 2001.<ref name="bio"/> Upon joining the faculty, she authored more books about the emerging role of women in hate groups. In 1998, she published ''No Middle Ground: Women and Radical Protest,'' a book focused on uncovering women's roles in radical and militant movements.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Osburn |first1=Katherine M. |title=Osburn on Blee, 'No Middle Ground: Women and Radical Protest' and Kathleen M. Blee, 'No Middle Ground: Women and Radical Protest' |url=https://networks.h-net.org/node/24029/reviews/29864/osburn-blee-no-middle-ground-women-and-radical-protest-and-kathleen-m |publisher=H-Women |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=1999}}</ref> She later co-authored ''The Road to Poverty: The Making of Wealth and Hardship in Appalachia'' with [[Dwight Billings]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Utz |first1=Heidi |title=A review of: The Road to Poverty: The Making of Wealth and Hardship in Appalachia |journal=Rural Sociology |date=June 2001 |volume=66 |issue=2 |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/b2788e632b15ad185055422b2b725c9e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=41903 |access-date=February 17, 2023}}</ref> and co-edited ''Feminism and Antiracism: Transnational Struggles for Justice'' with [[France Winddance Twine]]. In 2002, Blee published ''Inside Organized Racism: Women in the Hale Movement,'' a book in which she interviewed 34 women involved in the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi groups, and Christian identity groups. The book dispelled numerous misconceptions about women in these movements, as she found that they were often educated, did not grow up poor, and had not suffered childhood abuse.<ref>{{cite news |title=Racist groups recruiting women |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118865682/racist-groups-recruiting-women/ |access-date=February 17, 2023 |publisher=The Sentinel |date=November 21, 2002|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Following the publication of these books, Blee was honored with one of the 2004 Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award by Chancellor [[Mark A. Nordenberg]] for "shaping a new intellectual and research tradition that will inspire future research agendas."<ref>{{cite web |title=Chancellor’s annual faculty awards announced |url=https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=45245 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=February 19, 2004}}</ref> She was also elected to a three-year term on the University's Senate Committee against Anti-Discriminatory Policies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Committee Members Elected |url=https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=45957 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=May 13, 2004}}</ref>

As a result of her academic scholarship, Blee was appointed a Distinguished Professor of Sociology in the School of Arts and Sciences in January 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Pittsburgh Sociologist Kathleen Blee Named Distinguished Professor |url=https://www.news.pitt.edu/news/university-pittsburgh-sociologist-kathleen-blee-named-distinguished-professor |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=January 2, 2007}}</ref> She was also again recognized by Nordenberg with a 2007 Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching due to her "outstanding contributions to teaching in sociology and women’s studies."<ref>{{cite web |title=Five win chancellor teaching awards |url=https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=5720 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=February 8, 2007}}</ref> Later that year, she also received one of four 2007 Provost’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring after she had chaired 12 dissertation committees and advised on seven.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Colvard |first1=Michele |title=Four Professors Honored for Mentoring Doctoral Students |url=https://www.chronicle.pitt.edu/story/four-professors-honored-mentoring-doctoral-students |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=April 9, 2007}}</ref> The following year, Blee was appointed chair of the sociology department while continuing to hold her appointments in history and the women's studies program.<ref>{{cite web |title=PEOPLE OF THE TIMES |url=https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=6524 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=June 26, 2008}}</ref> While serving in these roles, she published ''Democracy in the Making: How Activist Groups Form'' and received the Virginia Hodgkinson Research Prize from the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bauder |first1=Bob |title=Newsmaker: Kathleen M. Blee |url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/newsmaker-kathleen-m-blee/ |access-date=February 17, 2023 |publisher=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]] |date=December 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=News of Note From Pitt |url=https://www.news.pitt.edu/non112912 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=November 29, 2012}}</ref>

In 2017, Blee was appointed Dean of the [[Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences]] College of General Studies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kathleen Blee Named Dean for School of Arts and Sciences, College of General Studies |url=https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=43719 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> While serving in this new role, she also accepted an appointment as co-director of the Collaboratory Against Hate, a center dedicated to the study and prevent hate and violence against marginalized groups.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pitt and CMU launch center dedicated to combating extremism |url=https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/news/pitt-and-cmu-launch |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, Blee stepped down as Dean of the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences College of General Studies and resumed her regular faculty responsibilities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kathleen Blee is stepping down as dean of the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.pitt.edu/pittwire/features-articles/dean-kathleen-blee-stepping-down |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=February 17, 2023 |date=June 1, 2002}}</ref>

== Selected publications ==
*Democracy in the Making: How Activist Groups Form (2012)
*Inside Organized Racism: Women and Men in the Hate Movement (2002, University of California Press)
*Feminism and Antiracism: Transnational Struggles for Justice (2001, New York University Press, Edited with [[France Winddance Twine]])
*The Road to Poverty: The Making of Wealth and Hardship in Appalachia (2000, Cambridge University Press, written with Dwight Billings)
*No Middle Ground: Women & Radical Protest (1998, New York University Press, Editor)
*Women of The Klan: Racism and Gender in the 1920s (1991, New York University Press)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.jstor.org/stable/23252119 Interview with Kathleen Blee]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blee, Kathleen M.}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh faculty]]
[[Category:University of Kentucky faculty]]
[[Category:American women sociologists]]
[[Category:American sociologists]]
[[Category:Indiana University alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]

Kathleen M. Blee - Revision history

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