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Academia nowadays is governed by the ideas of the likes of Judith Butler and pandring to the upperclasses, and the male ego.
The more I get into it, the more I see the degree to which people around me have bought into these ideas and how fiercely they believe them.
"Porn shouldn't be limited, even if children get exposed to it", cos it's their parents' fault, they say. The solution is education, they say, not any limitations.
"sex work is work, how can u tell these people not to work?" and " people should not be ashamed of their kinks, even when they want to choke".
But they would never do ' sex work' themselves.
And its also clearly classist, ignoring porn addiction as a societal problem by opting for the 'the rights of people to view and relish in their kinks'.
But they do believe in changing 'offensive terms' to fit with today's values.
And it's even females I'm hearing this from!
I am so tired of having to engage with this nonsense. I sometimes get so unmotivated I just feel like quitting.
I feel like I am at my strong and at my weakest. It is rather exhausting.
The difference between academia and the world outside it is alarming. I just got into an argument with someone about these things. I knew that we hadn't agreed about everything before, but this sheer support for porn and sex work just makes me sick. But I also believe in befriending people you disagree with, even if you don't agree with them on everything.
I feel like for a while I hadn't listened to my intuition and wish I could regain it.
How do I balance moving forward while to some degree engaging with this lie?
Maybe it's just recently so, but I just feel anxious and exhausted.
"But I also believe in befriending people you disagree with, even if you don't agree with them on everything."
Yes. I am friends with people who believe pineapple does not belong on a pizza. I am not friends with people who think women are not people.
The difference between these is that one is an opinion and one is a value.
ETA: keep an emotional boundary. You don't need to engage with every objectional viewpoint or person beyond the necessary for work. They aren't your friends, they are acquaitances
My brother is in academia, and it's like another world. They are insulated from consequences and reality. They do NOT live in the real world.
The pettiness, backstabbing and abuse is shocking. The stakes are so low, that everyone takes everything to the hilt. From what I know, those who are successful must adapt or die. My brother fits into that world because he devolved into a piece of shit who wants to be on top by virtu of nothing. Think carefully if you want these people to be your peers.
I have two friends, both women and they’re educated as well. They believe this and I think it’s because they’re naive. They don’t see how it’s harmful for women as a class. Both have more education than me and one always pulls the “you’re uneducated “ card with anyone that disagrees with her. Which by her beliefs is “classist” so there’s really no logic with these people.
If I try and say anything and back up what I’m saying with facts and science the one that calls people uneducated gets very upset, almost to the point of tears. Im not saying anything mean, just facts and statistics. I think in university from within the past 10 years it’s not common to be challenged on anything. You are told what to think and no one ever says anything that goes against it. It’s like they’re brainwashed or something. If someone , like me in this case brings up something like Nordic model when talking about prostitution with her, this reduces her to tears and name calling because she’s never had anyone go against her. I think it’s been common for a while now In higher education.
I have a hot take on this. Academia and education right now are full of pseudo upper class panderers because:
Education used to be a mark of being upper class bc lower classes couldn't afford it- especially the arts and humanities.
Now, with student loans- anyone can get a degree. So you've got a bunch of people (who otherwise wouldn't have the option to be frivolous) becoming career academics as a way to achieve class mobility. They can keep taking out student loans -you don't have to pay them back if you're still a student!
So you now have a flood of people in education who have a tangible incentive to stay there, who use their lower class backgrounds as a badge of anti-establishment credibility- these are the career academics.
(*Side note- student loans are predatory lending by the government on teens. They shouldn't be forgiven they should be stopped and prosecuted as a class action lawsuit. They shouldn't be issued)
That depends on if a reasonable, respectful discussion and relationship is still possible and if they respect your boundaries about the topic (which can be "I don't want to discuss that, so don't bring it up in my presence").
I am also not friends with people who disagree with me when it comes to my fundamental moral principles. Defending porn would touch on one or two of these for me ("rape is wrong" and "coercing or manipulating a person into sexual acts (with the promise of money, fame, protection etc.) they would not do if they really had a free choice is also wrong" ... and that's essentially what porn is).
I would go crazy if I was in academia in the current climate. So kudos to you for being there in the first place.
This problem is not just in academia though. Pretty much everywhere there's politics, there's people parroting groupthink from one side or another. Critical thinking is heavily discouraged, or even sanctioned, everywhere. But I see how critical thinking being sanctioned in academia (where it should belong) is particularly alarming.
Not gonna lie I'm not optimist about the future.
What I try to do is working on myself to be the change I would like to see, because there's not much else I can do. I too keep (mostly female) friends who I disagree with, because I believe that seeing a radfem who is not "evil" (like their stereotype of a radfem is) will make them rethink stuff and sometimes this has worked. Obviously if I don't like someone at a human level (if I find them narcissistic and mean) I don't waste my time engaging with them.
My impression is that, courtesy of the internet, people are losing the ability to see multiple side of one issue and integrating several points of views. Black and white thinking i
has always existed, but now is getting out of control, because now it's not just politically convenient, it's also PROFITABLE. People are making billions out of black and white thinking. It's fucking scary.
The temptation to fall for it myself is high, but I don't want to part of the problem so I keep this urge in check. I get closer to people who are TRULY open minded (not the kind whose brain falls out), and I gradually distance myself from the zealots when I realize I've met one. There's not much else I can do.
And when in doubt, protect your energy first.
where is that post about critical thinking and knowing your views backwards and forwards? i think Google Translate or PyrophyteHeart posted it. i feel like i need to re-read that!
in my graduate program, the MEAT of what we learned was how to critique another’s work. how ironic that my degree isn’t making me a cent today. sad.