Behind the News with Doug Henwood cover image

Behind the News with Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 2/13/25

Feb 13, 2025
Olufemi Taiwo is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University and author of 'Elite Capture,' focusing on the misuse of progressive ideas by corporations. Sophia Rosenfeld, a history professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of 'The Age of Choice,' examines the evolution of freedom through choice. They explore the complexities of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in today's society, critiques around corporate diversity initiatives, and the historical implications of choice in personal and societal contexts, including feminism and consumerism.
53:00

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Olufemi Taiwo critiques DEI initiatives for focusing on superficial diversity without addressing deeper systemic inequalities and economic power dynamics.
  • Sophia Rosenfeld highlights that while the culture of choice appears liberatory, it can impose significant constraints and exacerbate feelings of overwhelm.

Deep dives

Understanding DEI and Class Dynamics

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives aim to address historical discrimination by promoting fair treatment across various identities. These initiatives have sparked controversy, with critics on both the left and right arguing about their effectiveness and implications. The discussion highlights how these battles often occur between elites, such as corporate liberals and reactionaries like Trump, while the broader working class remains largely unaffected. According to the philosopher Olufemi Taiwo, resentment toward DEI initiatives stems from internal worker dynamics, particularly in tech companies where disparities between management and factory workers feed into a larger economic reshaping.

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