#133 | Why Feminist Studies Don’t Belong in Academia
About This Episode
In this guest episode I sit down with Professor Marc J. Defant, Professor of Geology and Geochemistry whose work spans the physical sciences and evolutionary psychology.
Recently he published a peer-reviewed paper in Sexuality & Culture titled “Evolutionary Psychology and the Crisis of Empirical Rigor in Feminist Studies” - https://rdcu.be/eOkjZ
The paper argues that much of modern feminist scholarship is ideology and not grounded in any truth. Professor Defant and I discuss how social constructivism has created confusion about relationships, work, masculinity, and femininity. We explore human evolution, parental investment theory, cross-cultural studies of mate selection preferences, and much more.
Listen in to learn how feminism might have broken an old template but has gone too far in denying human nature, why suppressing sex differences actually clarifies them more, the real roots of the pay gap, and what’s really going on between men and women today.
Get in touch with Professor Marc J. Defant here: https://www.marcdefant.com/about/
-Watch his TED talk here: https://youtu.be/_nCOhrYV7eg?si=SmxngOyM1fTCaO1aTIMESTAMPS:
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 — Intro & Attraction Differences
01:00 — Introducing Professor Marc J. Defant
01:56 — Background in Evolutionary Psychology
03:11 — Feminist Critiques of Biology
04:00 — Social Constructivism vs. Instincts
06:48 — Motherhood & Changing Priorities
08:44 — How Fatherhood Changes Men
10:11 — Human Evolution & Brain Size
11:51 — Male Parental Investment
14:25 — Cross-Cultural Mate Preferences
14:56 — Why Men Value Youth & Beauty
16:26 — Modern Women Providing Resources
18:51 — The APA on Toxic Masculinity
20:06 — High-Earning Women & Divorce
21:33 — The Crisis in Feminist Studies
23:44 — Fat Studies & Health at Every Size
25:52 — Body Positivity & Reproductive Suppression
28:16 — Unrealistic Beauty Standards
29:32 — Societal Pressures on Young Men
31:24 — Objectification vs. Natural Attraction
32:20 — The Importance of Inner Beauty
33:53 — Women's Long-Term Mate Preferences
35:28 — Hetero-Pessimism & Dating Apathy
36:21 — Female Entitlement & Independence
37:04 — The Patriarchy & The Pay Gap
38:35 — Flexibility & Occupational Choices
40:01 — Women Dominating Modern Fields
42:00 — Rethinking Societal Expectations
44:36 — Male Competition & Workplace Dynamics
46:08 — Did Early Feminism Misunderstand Needs?
47:00 — The Alternative Path of Early Feminism
49:15 — The Biological Reality of the Sexes
51:45 — Consequences of Blank Slate Theory
54:10 — Equal Opportunity vs. Equal Outcomes
56:30 — How Men & Women Communicate Differently
59:00 — The Importance of Complementary Roles
01:01:20 — Fixing the Modern Dating Market
01:03:45 — Advice for Young Men Today
01:06:15 — Navigating Career vs. Motherhood
01:08:45 — Building a Meaningful Partnership
01:12:46 — Discussing Marriage Expectations Early
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