Suzanne M. Bianchi

Suzanne M. Bianchi (April 15, 1952, Fort Dodge, Iowa – November 4, 2013, Santa Monica, California) was an American sociologist. She was known for her work studying the evolving American family and gender roles.

Education and career After graduating valedictorian from her high school, Bianchi was the first in her family to go to college and earned her B.A. in Sociology from Creighton University, her M.A. from University of Notre Dame, and her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Bianchi began her career as a demographer for the U.S. Census Bureau, where she remained until 1994, rising to an assistant division chief position. In 1994, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland, where she eventually chaired the university's sociology department and became the founding director of the Maryland Population Research Center. In 2000, she served as president of the Population Association of America.

In 2009, Bianchi moved to UCLA, where she was the first Dorothy L. Meier Chair in Social Equities.

Death In July 2013, Bianchi was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She died on November 4, 2013. Her work encouraged the creation and use of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) as well other international time use surveys.

Bianchi's academic work explored the shrinking gender gap and how women's careers affected households. Most of her studies focused on how parents, especially mothers, balance the demands of work and family. The book "Continuity and change in the American Family", co-written with Lynne Casper, was award-winning, as well as her book "Changing Rhythms of American Family Life" with Melissa Milkie and John P. Robinson.