It's Been a Minute Fake skull science is back - and it's still racist
Apr 16, 2025
Lily Hu, a Yale philosophy professor researching social science and race, joins Miles Klee, a culture writer for Rolling Stone, to dissect the troubling revival of pseudosciences like phrenology and physiognomy. They dive into how these outdated beliefs are resurfacing through social media, fostering harmful stereotypes and racism. The duo discusses the dangerous implications of biological determinism and its ties to historical ideologies, including connections to modern narratives around gender and immigration enforcement.
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Phrenology's Racist Roots
- Phrenology and physiognomy are pseudosciences that claim skull or face shape reveals character or intelligence. - These false sciences were historically used to justify racist hierarchies and discrimination.
TikTok Revives Junk Science
- TikTok popularized skull shape ideas like "witch skulls" and "angel skulls" blending entertainment with pseudoscience. - Such trends connect to darker, racist ideologies despite appearing playful on surface.
Incel Culture and Face Science
- Incel culture obsessively links minor facial features to life outcomes like attractiveness or success. - This toxic determinism treats faces as fate, reinforcing harmful social narratives.