Meghan Daum, a renowned journalist and host of The Unspeakable, joins for a riveting discussion on the policing of women's behavior. She explores the complexities of cancel culture, questioning if modern feminism infantilizes women. Daum delves into the nuances of identity politics within the LGBTQIA+ community and critiques how AI can perpetuate gender biases. The conversation also touches on gender representation shifts in various fields and the cultural impact of the pandemic on media.
Meghan Daum highlights how women often lead cancel culture, promoting peer criticism while simultaneously self-silencing meaningful dialogue.
The podcast critiques the narrative of female oppression, noting women's current achievements in education and power as indicators of shifting societal dynamics.
Deep dives
The Role of Women in Cancel Culture
Women are identified as the primary drivers of cancel culture, with many instances of social media mobilization and public shaming stemming from female participation. The conversation emphasizes that women have a unique role in initiating cancellations, often leading peer groups to criticize and ostracize those who oppose certain progressive views. Megan Daum notes that women are more likely to self-silence and miss out on meaningful discussions, suggesting the need for a supportive space that allows them to express their beliefs without fear of backlash. This highlights the complexities of modern discourse, where women's influence can be both empowering and constraining, depending on the context.
Censoriousness and Its Historical Context
The podcast traces the history of censoriousness back to earlier periods, noting shifts in who is deemed the 'purity police' throughout the decades. Initially, these efforts were largely associated with right-wing movements, but the tide turned around the early 2010s, leading to a new wave of leftist censorship rooted in social justice ideals. Daum describes how this environment has led to increased hostility among individuals who often attack each other's perceived lapses in virtue. The discussion promotes the idea that within elite circles, particularly in media and academia, a vigorous culture of compliance and social pressure has emerged, contributing to a toxic atmosphere.
Reevaluating Feminism and Power Dynamics
The conversation addresses the shifting dynamics of women's roles in society and challenges the prevailing narratives about women being oppressed. Daum highlights that women are currently achieving greater educational success and professional power than men, leading to questions about the necessity of victimhood narratives in feminist discussions. By asserting that women often occupy positions of privilege, she critiques a culture that tends to exaggerate struggles for political gain. This reevaluation prompts a discussion on how the portrayal of women as perpetual victims undermines genuine progress and empowerment in society.
Do women police each other's behaviour more than men do? Are they likelier to be busybodies, calling each other out online? Pouncing, denouncing, hounding, unfriending? That's the experience of the legendary dissident journalist Meghan Daum, a former Los Angeles Times columnist who has created a sanctuary for independent-minded women to support each other's intellectual freedom.