Sarah E. Frank (“Frankie”)

Frankie (Sarah E. Frank) is currently a PhD candidate and lecturer at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the Department of Sociology and the Department of Legal Studies.

Research interests include: gender, sexuality, law, menstruation, queer theory, relationships, intimacy, sex roles, bodies & embodiment, institutions and regulation, intersectionality, qualitative methods, online ethnography.

Publications & Writing

• “Queering Menstruation: Trans and Nonbinary Identity Politics.” Sociological Inquiry (2020)
  • American Sociological Association Body & Embodiment Graduate Student Publication Award, Honorable Mention (2020)
  • Alpha Kappa Delta, International Sociology Honor Society, Graduate Student Paper Competition, First Place Award (2019)
  • 3-Minute Thesis, Midwest Sociological Society, First Place Winner & Audience Choice (2019)
• “Intersex and Intimacy: Presenting Concerns About Dating and Intimate Relationships.” Sexuality & Culture. (2017)
  • Wisconsin Festival of Ideas, Union Dictorate Graduate Student Selection (2017)
• “Resident Perspectives on Effective Surgical Education.” Journal of Surgical Education. with Oksana Babchenko, Kaylee Scott, Sarah Jung, Shady Elmaraghi, Shruthi Thiagarajasubramanian, Victoria Renedell, Harry Nayar, Samuel Poore, Michael Bentz and Catharing Garland. (2020)
• Book Review: Queering Families: the Postmodern Partnerships of Cisgender Women and Transgender Men by Carla A. Pfeffer. Sociological Inquiry.
• Film Review: Three Identical Strangers. Teaching Sociology.

Under Review

• Garland, Catharine Bradford; Babchenko, Oksana; Gunderson, Kirsten A.; Scott, Kaylee B. and Frank, Sarah. “If they remember what it was like to be a medical student, it makes all the difference” – Medical Student Perspectives on Effective Surgical Clerkships.”

Public Sociology

• Consumer Reports “Period Underwear” (October 2021)
• “Hannah Montampons.” Girl Found (Podcast, April 2021)
• EndoBabe “Menstruation Research & Endometriosis in the Trans and Non-Binary Communities” (Podcast, May 2020)
• “This Grad Student is on the Lowest rung of the Pay Ladder and Side Hustles to Compensate.” Personal Finance for PhDs. (Podcast, February 2020).
• “After Detention: the Stuggle Continues as Immigrants Await Their Court Dates on U.S. Soil” Isthmus (July 2019)
  • Social Initiative Award, Sociologists for Women in Society (2020)

Current Projects

• COVID Dating & Intimacy
• Menstrual Taxes & Law
• Endometriosis & Medicine
• Menstruation and Race in Medicine
• Military Menstruation

Teaching & Curriculum

• Courses Created & Developed, Instructor
  • Law, Sexuality & Society
  • Crime, Gender & Justice
  • Women & Law
  • Introduction to LGBTQIA Studies
  • The Sociological Enterprise (Introductory Sociology)
  • Marriage & Family
  • Introductory Sociology, Honors
• Courses Taught, Teaching Assistant
  • Crime, Gender & Justice
  • Survey of Sociology (Writing Intensive)
  • Sociology of Gender
• Awards & Recognition
  • University of Wisconsin – Madison Award for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities (2021)
    • Research mentorship in Sociology and Legal Studies
  • Continuity of Instruction Award (University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2020/2021)
    • Center for Law, Society & Justice Recipient & Nominee
    • University Award Winner
  • College of Letters & Science Teaching Assistant Award (Department of Sociology, 2019)
    • Department of Sociology Recipient (University of Wisconsin – Madison, nominee)
  • Early Excellence in Teaching Award (University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2018)
    • Department of Sociology Recipient & Nominee
    • University Award Winner
  • Alpha Kappa Delta Teaching & Learning Fellow (AKD & Midwest Sociological Association, 2018)
    • Midwest Sociological Association Certificate in Teaching & Learning
  • Teaching Fellow, Comm-B (University of Wisconsin – Madison, Writing Center, 2017)
  • Honored Instructor Award (University of Wisconsin – Madison Housing, 2017)
• Trainings Designed & Instructed
• Other Instruction Experience
  • Menstruation Nation, Qualitative Menstruation Lab Founder (2017-present)
    • Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies Grant (2020)
  • UW Madison Senior Thesis Supervisor (Sociology, Legal Studies) (2020-present)

Memberships Include: American Sociological Association, National Women’s Studies Association, Sociologists for Women in Society, Midwest Sociological Society, Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honors Society, Society for Menstrual Cycle Research