What Works EP 490: Standardize Me
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Mar 13, 2025 Explore how standardization shapes our choices, from clothing sizes to voting preferences. Discover its impact on education and consumer behavior, revealing how tests like the SAT influence identity. Dive into how standardized categories can constrain self-perception and challenge the labels that limit us. The conversation encourages embracing diverse frameworks for understanding identity and navigating personal and social issues in a more nuanced way.
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SAT Story
- Tara McMullen's daughter took the SAT despite colleges making it optional.
- She was influenced by the character Rory Gilmore and wanted a high score.
Standardization's Pervasiveness
- Standardization is everywhere once you become aware of it.
- It influences systems from college admissions to media production.
Three Sides of the Same Coin
- Industrialization, standardization, and digitization are intertwined.
- Mass production standardizes every aspect of creation, exemplified by clothing.