Korwin wrote:OK, to be serious for a second ...
Why is this a discussion now?
Why are so many people clamoring now for colleges to close certain courses that promote things that they don't agree with?
Y'all do realize that gender studies courses, liberal arts departments, philosophy departments, and sociological studies departments have been offered and have existed in Western universities for quite literally centuries now, right? Hell, there are centuries-old schools dedicated to art, philosophy, theology, and sociology. These institutions were around before Tumblr, Anita Sarkeesian, and even your great-great-great-great grandfather.
What has changed now compared to, say, 100 years ago?
I should warn y'all who are all gung-ho about this that the only other times in human history were there is a significant push to abolish progressive social thought in universities, and abolish liberal arts programs is when a nation is slipping down into autocracy and authoritarianism, were absolutists wish to push progressives out, or when a dictator already in power wishes to consolidate his iron fist even harder on educational institutions. This same discussion was going on in Germany before and during Hitler's rise to power.
[[Yes, I realize that gender studies hasn't been around for over a century, and I'm sure you're going to call me out for the Ad Hitlerum comment, but it is true. I also recognize and agree that there are biases that occur in college campuses that go too far, but social media blows them out of proportion. Also, people lie. I also agree that there are certain departments and degrees that are--in practicality--useless, but that doesn't mean that they should be abolished, or that people interested in them should be barred from learning about them, and that also doesn't mean that there is no real-world application for them.]]
Nobody is calling for them to be closed. We're calling for the right to not be forced to study them. Reading comprehension is a great thing.