Nina Bandelj

Children as projects Contemporary parenting is far from permissive chaos and more relentless effort: careful scheduling, constant supervision, and pouring our souls—as well as loads of money—into our children.

"Your son saved someone's life? He can put it on his college application!" is what one caller was told and shared on @kqedforum.bsky.social in a recent episode with me. Not shocked?
Read why in my "Children as Projects" essay - and more in my book OVERINVESTED. press.princeton.edu/ideas/childr...

Delighted to hear @casbsstanford.bsky.social was listening in to my @kqedforum.bsky.social conversation. BIG thanks to CASBS for the crucial support to move the “Overinvested” book project forward. I know there are so many alumni out there thinking the same!

What do we *really* owe our children?
Excited about *OVERINVESTED: The Emotional Economy of Modern Parenting* officially publishing next week. @princetonupress.bsky.social
Grateful to @ucisocsci.bsky.social Heather Ashbach for talking to me about it.
#children #parents #parenting

Merci beaucoup, Céline! I wanted to let you know about the book launch event:
“From Priceless to Overinvested” conversation between Viviana Zelizer and Nina Bandelj, moderated by Frederick Wherry. January 22, 4pm ET. Register online: uci.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

So nice to virtually meet you @brenchurchill.bsky.social! I call out your important research with @leahruppanner.bsky.social in the book. Very happy to connect!

Amazing, Paul-Brian! Thanks so much! I'm happy to zoom in, too, if that is something that would be of interest.

Thank you so much @rlspang.bsky.social! For the launch event we are reassembling the team of “Money Talks,” which you were so kind to write about in @financialtimes.com.

New year, new book! Thrilled to launch OVERINVESTED in conversation with the brilliant Viviana Zelizer, moderated by Fred Wherry
“From Priceless…to Overinvested”
January 22, 4pm ET, register at: lnkd.in/g-ewbpyX

Front cover of The Division of Rationalized Labor. The cover includes four pictures: pen and paper, microscope, factory tower, police badge. Modern-looking yellow lines and graphs are superimposed.

My new book, The Division of Rationalized Labor, is now shipping! A brief summary of the argument to follow…

The best of worlds when reviewers get your main point! Yes, OVERINVESTED shows that demands of modern parenting are unsustainable.
Very grateful to Kirkus Reviews. Book releases on January 20.
@princetonupress.bsky.social

How we came to take for granted that children are investment projects and childrearing is exhausting labor, and—thanks @publisherswkly.bsky.social for agreeing!—that “the society must radically reimagine its approach.”

Over the moon to announce OVERINVESTED, my new book baby due January 20, 2026, with a starred Publishers Weekly review. “Overinvested: The Emotional Economy of Modern Parenting” press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

Wonderful! Big congrats on the 2025 Thomas Wolfe Prize. Richly deserved @tressiemcphd.bsky.social !

Revised and Extended: What's Happening Inside the NIH and NSF

This article--on the systematic dismantling of the NIH, NSF, and CDC--is a must-read not only for researchers and clinicians but for anyone who has ever gotten a vaccine, taken medication, read the results of a research study, or gotten tested for Covid, flu, or STIs.
www.science.org/content/blog...

Our last encounter was a celebratory hug for his 2024 ASA Du Bois award and we reminisced about debating socialisms in Budapest in 2002 when we first met. Rest in power, dear Michael Burawoy. As we mourn this most tragic loss, my heart goes out to so many I know he mentored and loved.

JOB ALERT: I am looking to hire two full-time pre-doctoral scholar to work with me in projects related to social stratification, human capital formation and health disparities. Data management and statistical analysis skills required. The position offers competitive salary and benefits.

As a professor, I work in an industry in decline. It's taken me a long time to come around to this idea, but it's hard to ignore the signs. I suspect people at certain institutions and fields long ago reached this conclusion. But it shapes how I think about my work and future.

Today 12/16 is the deadline to submit to SASE @sasemeeting.bsky.social and look forward to a great meeting in Montreal, July 9-12. See you there!

An actual slide from University Emergency Response Training:
Emergencies to be prepared for, next to earthquake and fires:
-widespread flooding or severe weather
-hazardous materials incidents
...
...
-zombie attacks/other civil unrest

Now properly certified and certainly unprepared 🤯

Child care in America - N-IUSSP America is facing a child care crisis: care services are costly and scarce and fail to meet the needs of families. The majority of U.S. voters, Joseph Chamie opines, feel ... Read more

“While the US Department of Health considers 7% of household income as an affordable benchmark for childcare, in 2023, 2/3 of parents spent 20+% on childcare. Average cost for 2 children is higher than average rent in 50 states & average mortgage payment in 45 states” www.niussp.org/family-and-h...

The science behind winning a Nobel prize?

“Want your kids to win a Nobel and can’t change your own occupation?… research offers two bits of advice. Have a son (you need to be from a particularly rich family if you’re a woman…), and live in America.” amp.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Thanks for doing this! Could you please add me?

Calling all social scientists whose work touches on offshore finance! Please submit your work to the special issue of the journal Socio-Economic Review that I'll be guest editing with my fellow sociologist Kimberly Kay Hoang & historian Vanessa Ogle. Due date:15 May.
academic.oup.com/ser/pages/cf...

Big thanks to @maudepugliese.bsky.social and Jeanne Lazarus, the wonderful editors of this special issue!

I co-directed this special issue of the Canadian Review of Sociology celebrating the work of Viviana A. Zelizer with Jeanne Lazarus. Zelizer is one of the most recognized economic sociologists; the issue highlights her significance for family and intimacy scholars. Links to all the articles below👇

Thrilled to contribute to a special issue dedicated to THE Viviana Zelizer and link of her #money research to #family studies. Check out the issue at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1755618x...

How much do you usually tip? #money

Would you please add me to the list? Thanks so much!

YouTube video by FrameLab podcast 24. The Rise of the Broligarchs w/Brooke Harrington

Want to know more about the broligarchs being put in charge of the US government? What do they want & what will it mean for us?

What's up with their obsessions with crypto & pregnancy?

Listen to me and @gilduran.bsky.social talk about it on his Framelab podcast!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYiH...