Short Wave A Mathematician's Manifesto For Rethinking Gender
Sep 14, 2020
Eugenia Cheng, a mathematician renowned for her work in category theory, discusses her new book, x+y, where she challenges traditional views on gender. She proposes a fresh framework for understanding behaviors outside of gender norms, illustrated through quirky examples like cookie distribution. Cheng emphasizes the importance of blending masculine and feminine traits in academia, advocating for collaborative learning. Additionally, she critiques the concept of scarcity in society, promoting collaboration over competition in all fields, including education and the arts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Cookie Conundrum
- Eugenia Cheng challenges traditional math problems, like cookie distribution.
- She suggests considering individual preferences, like a preference for apples over cookies.
Category Theory and Gender
- Eugenia Cheng uses category theory to analyze gender.
- She suggests shifting focus from gender constructs to individual characteristics.
Beyond the Gender Binary
- Traditional gender categorization is problematic, suggesting that certain traits are inherently linked to specific genders.
- Cheng proposes new categories: 'ingressive' for individualistic behavior, and 'congressive' for collaborative behavior.
