The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast – 388. How Gender Affects Your Ideals | Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott

Intro

In this episode of “The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,” Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott join Jordan Peterson to discuss their new book, “The Canceling of the American Mind.” The conversation revolves around the impact of cancel culture on American universities and institutions, with a focus on the differentiation between feminine and masculine tendencies in regards to free speech. The authors share their concerns about toxic femininity, the need to move away from self-described victimhood, and the importance of maintaining a balance between men and women in higher education.

Main Takeaways

Cancel Culture and Its Impact

• The book focuses on cancel culture and its impact on American universities and institutions.
• Cancel culture is not only real, but historic, with twice as many professors fired than during McCarthyism.
• Higher education is the space where cancel culture is most dominant, and it has gone off the rails.

Differentiating Feminine and Masculine Tendencies

• The authors differentiate between feminine and masculine tendencies in regards to free speech.
• Toxic femininity is an under-discussed phenomenon in higher academia and institutions.
• Women tend to turn to innuendo, reputation, savaging, and gossiping to destroy their opponents to their own advantage.

The Need for Balance and Rationality

• Maintaining a balance in higher education between men and women is important for the future of society.
• Emphasizing rationality from a young age is important to avoid hijacking women’s psyches with emotions.
• Women have virtually identical levels of general cognitive ability as men and harnessing their talent would benefit everyone economically.

The Rise of Cancel Culture and Social Media

• Social media has no constraints on anti-social behavior, which terrifies the speakers.
• The rapid technological shift is the major change that allowed for cancel culture more than anything else.
• Social media has made it possible to introduce billions of additional eyes and mouths to a discussion in a short period of time, leading to cancel culture.

The Crisis of Authenticity and Free Speech

• Authenticity is the most important thing, and there’s a crisis of authenticity with young people growing up online.
• Cancel culture can affect anyone, even those who believe they are in a safe environment.
• Telling the truth can open up new opportunities and pathways.

Summary

Cancel Culture and Its Impact

Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott’s book, “The Canceling of the American Mind,” delves into the phenomenon of cancel culture and its impact on American universities and institutions. The authors highlight the historical significance of cancel culture, with twice as many professors being fired than during McCarthyism. They express concerns about the dominance of cancel culture in higher education, emphasizing the need to address its detrimental effects.

Differentiating Feminine and Masculine Tendencies

Lukianoff and Schlott discuss the differentiation between feminine and masculine tendencies in regards to free speech. They shed light on the under-discussed phenomenon of toxic femininity in higher academia and institutions, where women tend to use innuendo, reputation, savaging, and gossiping to destroy their opponents. The authors emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing these tendencies to foster a healthier academic environment.

The Need for Balance and Rationality

The authors stress the importance of maintaining a balance between men and women in higher education. They advocate for emphasizing rationality from a young age to prevent emotions from hijacking women’s psyches. Lukianoff and Schlott highlight that women have virtually identical levels of general cognitive ability as men, and harnessing their talent would benefit everyone economically. They emphasize the need to move past gender-based stereotypes and recognize individual strengths and weaknesses.

The Rise of Cancel Culture and Social Media

Lukianoff and Schlott discuss the role of social media in the rise of cancel culture. They express concern about the lack of constraints on anti-social behavior, particularly in relation to toxic femininity. The authors highlight the rapid technological shift that has allowed cancel culture to flourish, as social media enables billions of additional eyes and mouths to join discussions. They acknowledge the challenges in addressing cancel culture but express hope that the cultural adaptation will lead to more constructive use of social media for productive discourse.

The Crisis of Authenticity and Free Speech

The authors highlight the crisis of authenticity faced by young people growing up online. They discuss the impact of cancel culture on free speech, emphasizing that it can affect anyone, even those who believe they are in a safe environment. Lukianoff and Schlott stress the importance of telling the truth and being authentic, as it can open up new opportunities and pathways. They encourage individuals to have the courage to stand up against cancel culture and its detrimental effects on genuine discourse.

Conclusion

“The Canceling of the American Mind” provides a thought-provoking exploration of cancel culture and its impact on American universities and institutions. Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott shed light on the differentiation between feminine and masculine tendencies in regards to free speech, emphasizing the need for balance and rationality. They discuss the rise of cancel culture in the age of social media and the crisis of authenticity faced by young people. The book serves as a call to action to protect free speech and foster a healthier academic environment.