Changing Perceptions of Race and Gender Throughout History

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Until recently, white people in America equated their racial identity with being American. Changing this mindset will be challenging, but necessary. Similarly, gender relations have seen more progress in the last few decades than in all of recorded history. Ancient societies did not depict men as caregivers, but we have evolved to appreciate the joys of fatherhood. This change is global, happening at different speeds. Progress may be slow, but it is happening.

This is the third episode in a three-part series about how to have difficult conversations with people who see the world differently, how to have better debates about contentious issues, and how to ethically and scientifically persuade one another about things that matter – in short, this is a three-part series about How Minds Change (which is also the title of my new book).

There seems to be a movement afoot, a new wave of nonfiction about how to reduce all this argumentative madness and epistemic chaos. I want to boost everyone’s signal on this issue, so I thought it would be nice to collaborate instead of compete, since that’s part of what we are all proselytizing with these books.

So this episode’s guest is Anand Giridharadas, the author of The Persuaders – a book about activists, politicians, educators, and everyday citizens who are on the ground working to change minds, bridge divisions, and fight for democracy.

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