Amia Srinivasan, a Professor at Oxford and author of 'The Right to Sex', dives into the complexities of feminist philosophy. She questions our societal understanding of consent, particularly in sexual relationships, and the ethical implications of gender norms in chess. Srinivasan critiques the simplistic narratives around gender equality and discusses the importance of context in political discourse. She also explores falling fertility rates and suggests systemic changes to support family dynamics, all while advocating for a fresh look at socialism's role in achieving equity.
01:05:02
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Context Matters in Speech
Consider context when evaluating potentially offensive speech, like violent rap lyrics or stand-up comedy.
Artistic expression requires different analysis than inciting violence in public.
insights INSIGHT
Left's Response to Conservative Critique
Srinivasan values community and tradition like some conservatives, but rejects ethnically or religiously insular visions.
She believes the left needs to offer alternatives to oppressive traditions.
insights INSIGHT
Gender Differences and Egalitarianism
Srinivasan rejects the premise that men and women become more different in egalitarian societies, citing data limitations.
She questions if the Nordic countries are truly egalitarian enough to draw conclusions.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
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.
Leaves of Grass
Walt Whitman
Natalie Montoto
First published in 1855, 'Leaves of Grass' is Walt Whitman's magnum opus and a cornerstone of American literature. The collection, which Whitman continued to revise and expand until his death, explores themes of identity, nature, democracy, and the human condition through free verse poetry. It is renowned for its innovative style and its celebration of the individual and the collective.
Fear and trembling
Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard's 'Fear and Trembling' is a philosophical exploration of faith and the ethical dilemmas it presents. The work centers on the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, examining the conflict between ethical demands and religious faith. Kierkegaard argues that true faith requires a leap of faith, a suspension of ethical considerations in favor of absolute commitment to God. The book's profound insights into the nature of faith and the individual's relationship with God have had a lasting impact on religious thought and existentialism. Kierkegaard's work challenges readers to confront the complexities of faith and to grapple with the ultimate questions of existence.
The subjection of women
John Stuart Mill
Published in 1869, 'The Subjection of Women' is an essay by John Stuart Mill that argues against the social and legal inequalities faced by women. Mill contends that the inferior status of women is not based on natural differences but rather on social customs and historical power dynamics. He compares the status of women to that of slaves, highlighting the lack of legal rights, including property ownership and suffrage. Mill advocates for women's education, employment opportunities, and the reform of marriage laws to achieve greater equality. The essay, influenced significantly by his wife Harriet Taylor Mill, was a groundbreaking call for gender equality and had a significant impact on the women's rights movement despite facing criticism and controversy at the time of its publication[1][5][4].
Against Interpretation
Susan Sontag
Revolting Prostitutes
The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights
Juno Mac
Molly Smith
Revolting Prostitutes analyzes the effects of different sex work policies, arguing for full decriminalization. The authors, Juno Mac and Molly Smith, use a Marxist feminist framework to discuss how issues in sex work are reflective of broader labor exploitation under capitalism. They critique models like the Nordic model and advocate for policies that provide sex workers with labor rights and safety.
What is our right to be desired? How are our sexual desires shaped by the society around us? Is consent sufficient for a sexual relationship? In the wake of the #MeToo movement, public debates about sex work, and the rise in popularity of “incel culture”, philosopher Amia Srinivasan explores these questions and more in her new book of essays, The Right to Sex: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century. Amia’s interests lay in how our internal perspectives and desires are shaped by external forces, and the question of how we might alter those forces to achieve a more just, equitable society.
Amia joined Tyler to discuss the importance of context in her vision of feminism, what social conservatives are right about, why she’s skeptical about extrapolating from the experience of women in Nordic countries, the feminist critique of the role of consent in sex, whether disabled individuals should be given sex vouchers, how to address falling fertility rates, what women learned about egalitarianism during the pandemic, why progress requires regress, her thoughts on Susan Sontag, the stroke of fate that stopped her from pursuing a law degree, the “profound dialectic” in Walt Whitman’s poetry, how Hinduism has shaped her metaphysics, how Bernard Williams and Derek Parfit influenced her, the anarchic strain in her philosophy, why she calls herself a socialist, her next book on genealogy, and more.
Conversations with Tyler 
