Tamara Kay
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tamkay.bsky.social
Tamara Kay
@tamkay.bsky.social
Andrew W. Mellon Chair & Professor of Sociology, University of Pittsburgh. Studies trade, labor, culture, organizations, global health, & reproductive rights. Co-Editor in Chief, Studies in Comparative International Development https://www.tamarakay.org/
NEW BOOK "Sesame Street Around the World: Culture, Politics, and Transnational Organizational Partnerships" is now on Amazon with a January release date. I am SO THRILLED!
lnkd.in/gDSuziAe
October 13, 2025 at 1:21 AM
To be in the USW, which is a primary case in my first book, NAFTA and the Politics of Labor Transnationalism, represents a full circle moment for me. We are all excited to move to a vibrant new city, and to meet new colleagues, friends, and yes, new horses!
July 3, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Today would have been #MichaelBurawoy's 78th birthday. I know all of us who loved him miss him very, very much. Ana Villarreal took this photo of him, which I love (as do many others). I'm so glad she did and that she shares it with us all.
June 16, 2025 at 12:16 AM
#MichaelBurawoy, Audrey Singer & I nominated the great photographer Sebastião Salgado (who passed away Friday) for the 2010 @asanews.bsky.social ASA Excellence in the Reporting of Social Issues Award. He won. To celebrate, I wrote this analysis @soc-forum.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/43e8vuew

May 27, 2025 at 9:45 PM
My book "Coproducing Sesame Street Around the World:
Culture, Politics, and Transnational Organizational Partnerships" will drop soon. I was in Amman & Ramallah to interview Mr. Kuttab & Palestinian team, & observe their workshops & meetings w NY-based Sesame Workshop staff. Incredible team.
March 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Eren took this beautiful photo of Michael Burawoy with his great friend Erik Olin Wright in 2002. Every Thursday night after our weekly TA meeting, Michael treated the seven of us to a REALLY nice dinner (wine always included). Erik joined one night @ Yoshi's for dinner and music.
February 6, 2025 at 4:59 AM
There is so much more to say about how incredible a person Michael was as we process this shattering loss. But today I want to remember Michael laughing.
February 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
He gave me one of the biggest, warmest hugs of my life, laughing the entire time.
February 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Everyone who worked w Michael adored him. He brought out the best in all of us, & he cared SO MUCH for all of his students. He & I had a running joke because he thought I hugged too much. He'd say "Don't come near me w your hugs, Tamara!" Then when I graduated...
February 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
In Vegas, Erendira dared him to wear red leather pants to the soc dept holiday party. He said, "Where am I going to get red leather pants?" (he was trying to get out of it). So Eren said "I'll take you shopping for them." She took him to a thrift store & found these for him & he kept his word.
February 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
He was a good sport when we insisted he try the water massage machine—we even prepaid for it so he could not say no. It tickled him and so he couldn't stop giggling— which resulted in all of us ROLLING on the floor laughing so hard we could barely breathe....
February 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
In 2001, we, his 7 TAs for theory decided it would be hilarious to take the world famous Marxist sociologist to the mecca of capitalism for spring break—Las Vegas. He was game for anything, & he PAID for everything we ate there too! I think we took him to the cleaners after one meal at the Paris.
February 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
It's too upsetting to repost the article. So I'll focus on the things that those of us who loved Michael Burawoy loved so much about him, including that he was SO much fun and SO hysterically funny. A thread....
February 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
There is so much more to say about how incredible a person Michael was as we process this loss. But today I want to remember him laughing.
February 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
He gave me one of the biggest, warmest hugs of my life, laughing the entire time.
February 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Everyone who worked w Michael adored him. He brought out the best in all of us, and he cared SO MUCH for all of his students. He & I had a joke because he thought I hugged too much. He'd say "Don't come near me w your hugs, Tamara!" Then the day I graduated...
February 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
In Vegas, Erendira dared him to wear red leather pants to the soc dept holiday party. He said, "Where am I going to get red leather pants?" (he was trying to get out of it). So Eren said "I'll take you shopping for them." She took him to a thrift store and found these for him. What a great sport....
February 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
He was a good sport when we insisted he try the water massage machine—we even prepaid for it so he could not say no. It tickled him and so he couldn't stop laughing— hich resulted in all of us ROLLING on the floor laughing so hard we could barely breathe....
February 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
In 2001, we, his 7 TAs for theory decided it would be hilarious to take the world famous Marxist sociologist to the mecca of capitalism for spring break—Las Vegas. He was game for anything, & he PAID for everything we ate there too! I think we took him to the cleaners after one meal at the Paris.
February 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Here's a brief history of trade liberalization, tariffs (including the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930), and how the President ended up with so much power over them—from our book "Trade Battles"
November 27, 2024 at 4:39 PM
As one of only a handful of sociologists who've studied free trade agreements & negotiations & didn't have to google Smoot-Hawley, who thought it would be one of the most relevant topics now? @wendyyli.bsky.social @mfair.bsky.social, RL Evans, Michael Dreiling, Francesco Duina, Nitsan Chorev
November 26, 2024 at 4:02 AM
And from the preface of "Trade Battles":
November 11, 2024 at 12:34 AM
The impact of free trade agreements on workers and the consequences politically and electorally—from our 2018 book “Trade Battles: Activism and the Politicization of International Trade Policy”
November 11, 2024 at 12:32 AM