Tyler Cowen, an economist and host of Conversations with Tyler, interviews Amia Srinivasan, a philosopher from Oxford and author of The Right to Sex. They dive into whether we have a 'right' to be desired and discuss how societal norms shape our sexual desires. The conversation gets heated over the sufficiency of consent in relationships and the implications of declining fertility rates. Moreover, they explore the complex intersections of feminism with various ideologies, challenging traditional perceptions around sex, desire, and ethical dilemmas.
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insights INSIGHT
Context is Key
Srinivasan values context and nuance in discussions of sexism and oppression.
She believes humor can exist without oppressive structures, citing ancient Greece as an example.
insights INSIGHT
Gender Egalitarianism
Srinivasan rejects the premise that gender egalitarianism leads to increased differences between men and women.
She argues current societies aren't egalitarian enough to draw such conclusions.
insights INSIGHT
Beyond Consent
Srinivasan views consent as necessary but insufficient for ethical sex.
She critiques the societal conditions that necessitate consent rituals.
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In this collection of essays, Amia Srinivasan addresses various aspects of sex and politics, including the politics of desirability, sexual racism, and the limitations of consent as a moral framework. The book critiques mainstream feminist discourse for its reticence to politicize desire and examines issues like student-teacher relationships, the incel movement, and the impact of colonialism and white supremacy on standards of attractiveness. Srinivasan's essays are characterized by their complexity and their insistence on dwelling in the discomfort and ambivalence of these politically charged topics.
The Case Against the Sexual Revolution
Lewis Perry
This week, while our audio team is on summer break, we’re featuring an episode from one of our favorite podcasts: Conversations with Tyler, hosted by the wonderful Tyler Cowen. It’s a conversation with philosopher Amia Srinivasan about her book, The Right to Sex: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century. They debate questions such as: do we have a “right” to be desired? How are our sexual desires shaped by the society around us? Is consent sufficient for a sexual relationship? How should we address falling fertility rates? What did women learn about egalitarianism during the pandemic? Why, according to her, progress requires regress. And much, much more. . .
The episode received a lot of attention and reactions, for reasons you’ll understand when you listen to it. Most importantly, it’s contentious yet respectful in a way that I think is increasingly rare in public life. As Tyler wrote at the time, on his blog Marginal Revolution, about the conversation: “You have to learn to learn from people who bother, annoy, or frustrate you. If you do, they will not in fact bother, annoy, or frustrate you.”
I couldn’t agree more. In fact, this conversation between Tyler and Amia was a big inspiration for our first-ever Free Press live debate, which is happening next week in L.A. The proposition: has the sexual revolution failed? If this conversation inspires you too, please consider buying a ticket to the event: Wednesday, September 13, at the Ace Theatre in downtown L.A.
Honestly with Bari Weiss 
