Ann Shola Orloff

Ann Shola Orloff (born 1953) is an American sociologist, specializing in Comparative-Historical Sociology, Gender and Social Inequalities, Sociological Theory and Political Sociology. She is a Professor of Sociology and Political Science and Board of Lady Managers of the Columbian Exposition Chair at Northwestern University. She is also editor of Social Politics, published by Oxford University Press, which she co-founded with Barbara Hobson (Stockholm University) in 1994. Prior to teaching at Northwestern University, She was an assistant professor for Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She obtained a B.A. from Harvard University in 1975 and a Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1985. She has been a visiting professor at the European University Institute, Sciences Po in Paris and the Australian National University.

Her books include Remaking Modernity: Politics, History and Sociology (co-editor with Julia Adams and Elisabeth Clemens; Duke, 2005) and States, Markets, Families: Gender, Liberalism and Social Policy in Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the United States (with Julia O'Connor and Sheila Shaver; Cambridge, 1999).

Orloff's publications include Rethinking Power in Politics (2012), Policy, Politics, Gender: Bringing Gender to the Analysis of Welfare States (edited by Stephan Leibfried, Oxford University, 2010), The Power of Gender Perspectives: Feminist Influence on Policy Paradigims, Social Science, and Social Politics ( co written by Bruno Pailer, Social Politics, 2009), Solidarity in Question: Gender, Nation and European Social Provision ( Review essay in Social-Economic Review, 2008), From Maternalism to 'Employment for All: Sate Policies to Promote Women's Employment Across the Affluent Democracies (Co edited by Jonah Levy, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2006).

Orloff's publications have shown a repeated pattern of supporting or advocating for social change in regards to woman, gender, and social inequalities. In 2006 Orloff wrote an article called "From Maternalism to 'Employment for all': State Policies to Promote Women's Employment Across the Affluent Democracies," which states that the increase in pay for single mothers does not due anything to change societal pressure. She argues that while the increase in pay helps, there is no benefit to the work-life balance. Some Sociologist disagree with Orloff and argue that the issue with woman working has more effect on depopulation.