350. In the Name of Wokeness: Institutionalized Racism | Heather Mac Donald
Apr 20, 2023
auto_awesome
Heather Mac Donald, a renowned author and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, shares her insights on the effects of wokeness on institutional practices. She critiques the ideology that prioritizes group identity over merit, advocating for merit-based hiring. The discussion explores the implications of cognitive testing on race and emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in young men’s development. Mac Donald challenges contemporary identity politics, arguing for the promotion of bourgeois values as key to societal success and mental health amidst cultural shifts.
IQ tests are important for predicting job performance and learning ability, despite equity concerns.
Cultural values influence societal narratives and racial disparities in complex jobs.
Family structure, conscientiousness, and socio-economic factors impact academic success and social stability.
Deep dives
The Importance of Merit and General Cognitive Ability
Jobs complexity and the need for a test of general cognitive ability as a predictor of job performance are highlighted. IQ tests' role in assessing the ability to learn and handle complex jobs is emphasized, discussing the equity concerns related to cognitive tests.
Challenges of Racial Disparities and Cultural Values
The impact of racial disparities in complex jobs and the critique of anti-meritocratic movements are explained. The book 'When Race Trumps Merit' delves into how cultural values, such as the denigration of Western traditions, impact societal narratives.
Role of Family Structure and Values in Cognitive Development
The podcast discusses the correlation between family structure, especially fatherlessness, and cognitive development. The significance of conscientiousness and socio-economic factors on academic success and social stability is outlined.
The Consequences of Equating Poverty with Lack of Economic Resources
The narrative shifts from viewing poverty solely as an economic issue to encompassing cultural and social capital aspects. The importance of instilling conscientious values, irrespective of race, and the failure of equating poverty reduction solely with financial remedy are highlighted.
Impact of Racial Policies on Scientific Progress
Racial equity initiatives are affecting scientific standards and research priorities, redirecting funds towards racial disparity investigations instead of pure scientific research. This shift is pushing scientific institutions to focus on racial proportionality in research grants rather than scientific needs, potentially hindering progress and innovation in critical scientific fields.
Dismantling of Gifted and Talented Programs
The dismantling of gifted and talented programs, like exam schools and selective admissions tests, due to disparate impacts on racial groups is hindering the identification and advancement of highly talented individuals. By prioritizing racial proportionality over recognizing exceptional cognitive talent, society risks losing out on crucial contributions and advancements from individuals with extraordinary abilities.
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson and Heather Mac Donald break down her new book, “When Race Trumps Merit,” detailing how the West has bizarrely adopted discriminatory practices in our institutions all in the name of wokeness.
Heather Mac Donald is the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor at City Journal, and the 2005 recipient of the Bradley Prize. Mac Donald received a BA from Yale University, an MA from Cambridge University, and a JD from Stanford University. Her work has covered a range of topics, from higher education and immigration to policing and race relations. Mac Donald's writing has appeared in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and New York Times. She is the author of several critically acclaimed books, including “The Diversity Delusion” and the New York Times bestseller “The War on Cops.”
- Links -
For Heather Mac Donald
Order your copy of “When Race Trumps Merit” today!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1956007164
Twitter https://twitter.com/HMDatMI
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode