SOCIOL 4W03 Final Exam Notes PDF

SOCIOL 4W03: Final Exam Notes October 24th Lecture: Haidt Hadit Birth Year and Place: 1963, NYC Current Role: Teaches social psychology at NYU's business school. Educational Background: Degree in social psychology at UNI OF PENNSYLVANIA Early Work: ○ Focused on ap...

SOCIOL 4W03: Final Exam Notes October 24th Lecture: Haidt Hadit Birth Year and Place: 1963, NYC Current Role: Teaches social psychology at NYU's business school. Educational Background: Degree in social psychology at UNI OF PENNSYLVANIA Early Work: ○ Focused on applying psychological principles to ancient wisdom traditions, synthesizing teachings from figures like Buddha, Plato, and Jesus. ○ Developed his ideas during his tenure at the University of Virginia, leading to the publication of The Happiness Hypothesis (2006). Perspective: ○ Identified as a "social psychological fox" (drawing on Isaiah Berlin's metaphor), integrating multiple theoretical approaches: Evolutionary psychology. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Explores concepts like catastrophizing and fortune-telling. Durkheimian sociology: Emphasizes community and shared values. Freudian metaphor of the "rider and elephant" (intellect and emotion). ○ Public intellectual blending scientific, public, and policy social psychology. Notable Contributions: ○ Academic and public works aim to bridge gaps between science, social issues, and policy. ○ Founded Heterodox Academy, promoting viewpoint diversity and intellectual openness in academia. ○ Emphasizes the role of intuition and strategic reasoning in moral psychology. Key Works: 1. The Happiness Hypothesis (2006): ○ Explores the balance between internal happiness and external engagement. ○ Advocates finding meaning through connections with others, fulfilling work, and interactions with the world. 2. The Righteous Mind (2012): ○ Addresses political polarization, particularly during Obama's presidency. ○ Core Argument: Moral intuitions come first; strategic reasoning follows. Morality extends beyond harm and fairness. Explores the six dimensions of moral reasoning: Care/Harm. Fairness/Cheating. Liberty/Oppression. Loyalty/Betrayal. Authority/Subversion.  Sanctity/Degradation. ○ Encourages liberals to better understand conservatives while critiquing both sides. 3. The Coddling of the American Mind (Essay 2015, Book 2018, co-authored with Greg Lukianoff): ○ Context: Reflects on shifts in higher education since the 1960s. Explores reactions to events at institutions like Berkeley, Yale, and Middlebury. Notes the influence of figures like Jordan Peterson in Canada. ○ Key Themes: Critiques "three bad ideas": "That which does not kill you makes you weaker." "Trust your feelings." "The world is made up of good and bad people." Links these ideas to broader cultural trends: Changes in parenting styles (e.g., free-range parenting vs. helicopter parenting). Social media's impact on behavior and gender dynamics. Political polarization exacerbated by university policies and practices. ○ Critiques higher education: Practices like trigger warnings, safe spaces, and microaggression policing. Argues these measures hinder resilience and open dialogue. Critiques of Haidt: Theoretical Bias: ○ Heavy reliance on scientific and evolutionary psychology; some argue for more qualitative approaches. ○ Criticized for framing Heterodox Academy as a subtle form of leftism while blaming liberal professors for ideological homogeneity. Suggestions for Alternatives: ○ More radical perspectives, such as those of Du Bois, Fanon, bell hooks, and Fromm. ○ Need for public and accessible education, particularly in Canadian contexts. ○ Focus on activist perspectives and broader societal structures. Other Observations: Haidt suggests happiness is not achieved by simply getting what you want but through meaningful connections and self-contentment. In contemporary politics, he classifies ideologies into: ○ Left, Liberal, Market Conservatives, Social Conservatives, Libertarians (left and right). ○ Notes the "WEIRD" phenomenon (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democracies). Personal Context:  Haidt has evolved from being a liberal academic to a public intellectual advocating for intellectual diversity. His works have a non-partisan tone while critiquing aspects of liberal and conservative ideologies. Isaiah Berlin Philosophical Contributions: ○ Examined political theorists and categorized them into two archetypes: Hedgehogs: Knows one thing deeply. Often slower-moving, potentially dogmatic, but powerful in presenting a clear worldview. Examples: Karl Marx, Auguste Comte, Judith Butler. Foxes: Knows a variety of things and integrates multiple theories. More flexible and adaptable. Examples: Jonathan Haidt. Book Review Instructions 1. Claims Makers Analysis: ○ Identify the claims made by the author. ○ Find and analyze alternative viewpoints that challenge the book’s arguments. 2. Sources: ○ Consult academic journals such as the American Sociological Review. ○ Explore opinion magazines like The Atlantic or other reputable public intellectual platforms. 3. Approach: ○ Engage critically with the text. ○ Pay attention to how the book's arguments align or conflict with other scholarly perspectives. Christopher Rufo Background: Birth Year: 1984  Birthplace: Sacramento, California Religious and Ethnic Background: Catholic with Irish and Italian roots. Education: ○ BA from Georgetown University. ○ MA from Harvard University. Affiliations: ○ Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. ○ Formerly associated with Discovery Institute, Claremont Institute, and The Heritage Foundation. Professions: ○ Think Tank Researcher: Analyzing think tanks as claims-makers. ○ Documentary Filmmaker with a focus on poverty. Major Contributions: Best-Selling Book: ○ America’s Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything. Key Figures Discussed: Marcuse, Davis, Freire, and Bell. Campaigns: ○ Critical Race Theory: Prominent associations include Tucker Carlson, Fox News, and former President Trump. ○ Medical Care for Youth: Focused on trans youth and hospitals. ○ Claudine Gay and Harris Campaigns. ○ Ohio Information Campaign: Allegations of hoax, conspiracy theory, or outright lies. New College of Florida Overview: Origins: ○ Founded as a private religious college in 1960. ○ Transitioned to a public liberal arts college in Florida. Academic Structure: ○ Focus on humanities, sciences, and social sciences. ○ Notable for: Lack of grades. Self-designed academic programs. Few sports.  Small classes with a focus on teaching. Current Developments: Challenges and Changes: ○ Influence of Governor Ron DeSantis. ○ Restructuring by the Board of Governors. ○ Increased emphasis on sports. ○ Changes to tenure and faculty recruitment. Future Direction: ○ Potential rebranding as a "Conservative Liberal Arts College." ○ Dubbed as the "Hillsdale of the South." October 31st/Nov 7th Lecture: The Sex Work Debate: Where is the Social Problem? Readings: ➔ Melanie Heath (prof at mac), Jessica Braimoh, & Julie Gouweloos, “Judging Women’s Sexual Agency: Contemporary Sex Wars in the Legal Terrain of Prostitution and Polygmay” - Opposite side of Rachel’s, focus on this (not gonna use the term prostitute because it is stigmatizing to women, nor the term sex work as it is legitimzing that needs to be eliminated) - Heath doesn't agree, uses term sex work, article bult upon this concept - Read article thoroughly as it is based on two different sets of legal cases Key Legal Cases: ➔ Polygamy BC in supreme court - Polyganmy is illegal in Canada - In B.C., a group of mormons from the US that practice polygamy wanted to eliminate the canadian law against it - Heath studied this fight - Her new book is all about polygamy ➔ Prostitution in Canadian Supreme Court (3 laws) - Prostition or sex work is not illegal in canada, it is legal to sell sexual services - HOWEVER, there are limitations: it is illegal to advertise, solicit, hire protection (pimps), and have a brothel - If the canadian governemt did not put in new laws, sex work would be legal without limits - Making legal institutionalized laws - Decriminalize, criminalize or making legal Contradictions: ➔ Feminists against feminists (1982 to today) ➔ Lived experience against lived experience - Claims makers = professionals in field - Avlish versus keep it Competing Frames: ➔ Sexual agency versus sexual exploitation ➔ Public intellectuals & professors as claims makers - Decriminalizing, abolishing, legalizing — different positions - Making claims based in expertise vs lived experience 1. Women's sexual agency, ability for women to choose if they wish to engage in polygamy and sex work — heaths claim 2. Moran’s claim is about exploitation of women & coercion - Social problem is the profession in its essence - These two above are competing frames of different claims makers, which then moral panic comes in Competing Feminisms: ➔ Radical: DworKin & Mackinnon - Patriarchy bonds against women ➔ Liberal - Trying to integrate women into society equally ➔ Socialist - Socal classes and class dynamics ➔ Heath & intersectional ➔ Communitarian (Hamilton) - For women's rights, but politically conservative Concepts & Politics: ➔ Bernstein “carceral” - Carceral feminism - Feminist who want to support women's rights but use criminal justice system to make it illegal ➔ Strange bedfellows - religious actors & some feminists  - Refers to unlikely alliances or partnerships between people or groups who would ordinarily oppose each other. It originates from the idea of two people sharing a bed despite having significant differences, implying an uncomfortable or unexpected closeness due to shared interests or a common goal. This expression has been adapted to describe situations in which, for example, religious groups and feminists come together on specific issues, despite having contrasting beliefs or ideologies. ➔ Identify the claims makers for book review; what are their frames?, what are the diversity of claims makers - i.e., who wouldn't be on the same side? ➔ 7 women's groups (asymmetrical model) 2010 ish ➔ Nordic model unspoken - Prions not as brutal as american system - Different - Making illegal to but sex, not seel sex — asymmetrical (originated in sweden) - More like a fine, not published, whereas in America you get arrested and have your name published on paper (“book not thrown at you”, suggests a leniency where penalties are less severe and less stigmatizing) ➔ Agency versus inherent harm - Making choices - Issue of agency — that's the frame (not frame of nordic, moran or heath model) - Inherently harmful — frame of nordic model and moran ➔ What is a just social landscape? - What people don't agree with (Moran doesn't) ➔ Harper - Took on swedish nordic model - Had to make laws and take action or it would be decriminalized by supreme court - Made set of laws ➔ Heath's book Researching the Issue: ➔ Sociology of sex work ➔ Ronald weitzer - Review of sex work ➔ Annual review of sociology - Where you can get research - Empirical — not so much claimsmaking ➔ An imaginary study? - Doug mcadam study Rachel Moran ➔ Background Information - Born in 1976 (REMEMBER SAME YEAR MOM WAS BORN AND SIMILAR LAST NAME) - North Dublin, Ireland (rough area, poor) - Father committed suicide - Mother suffered from mental health issues - Due to her parents situations, she became homeless in north dublin - Boyfriend suggested to go into sex work when she was 14, she followed - Got addicted to cocaine for 7 years - 1998 she left sex work, had a son, and now has a another son today - Started an organization called SPACE (survivors of abuse calling for enlightenment) - She doesn’t use or like the word sex work - People who wanted sex work to stay legal, said she made up her story just so she could get famous and write a book; she won a lawsuit from these claims because they were untrue Nordic Model: ➔ The terms shape the frames ➔ There is a discourse about being a prostitute ➔ If you use the term sex workers, then you're framing it as a profession with rights for workers ➔ Rachel uses the term “prostituted women” - She sees it as something that was done to her as her parents did not protect her, however she also takes responsibility - Low about of agency for herself ➔ Different words leads you into different directions ➔ Asymmetric, equity model ➔ Buying sex is illegal, cut off the buyers ➔ Prof made a comparison of sex work to Abolism - Measures promoting the abolition especially of slavery ➔ People against this are called carceral feminism ➔ In Sweden and norway - (1) Make it illegal, or (2) take away the law, or (3) legalize and regulates OR (4) nordic model ➔ Americans were shocked at hammers and saws being in norway jails ➔ Sweden and norway are a criminalizing society, they get fines for buying sex ➔ Competing moral arguments, frames, and research; some are like what do I believe then what are the results? More or less violent against women? Random Notes:  ➔ Steelman technique for book review - Building the best form of the other side's argument and then engaging with it. - To create a version of your opponent's argument that's even stronger than their own. - Think through the best best possible case, not the easiest to win ➔ Taking the best part of turner's argument ➔ Mississippi burning movie; turning the rise of the civil rights movement, and there was an effort to have blacks allowed to vote, northerners helped, 3 young students got killed ➔ Patterns ➔ Exam is on articles, and videos ➔ Moral competing frames, what kind of research could be used to decade what we think? ➔ When writing book reviews, be careful to find some magazines and not just articles online ➔ Do not be very critical of the sociologist arguments we are studying as prof doesn’t believe in cancel culture Nov 7th Lecture: George Soros Birth and Family: ○ Born in 1930 in Budapest, Hungary to Jewish parents; his father was a lawyer. WWII Experience: ○ Witnessed the confiscation of Jewish property during the Nazi occupation. ○ Survived by using false papers and living with a government official who claimed Soros as his godson. ○ Accused later in life of being a Nazi collaborator, though this has been debunked. Post-War Years: ○ Fled communist Hungary and moved to London. ○ Studied at the London School of Economics, influenced by Karl Popper’s philosophy of open societies. ○ Lived on charity while mastering investment strategies. He becomes wealthy, financial expert in hedge funds invest nets, moves to new york and becomes one of the richest in the worlds, donates his money to philanthropy, then to left wing issues He gave money to legalize drugs, sex work 24 million dollars to get obama to win (on the democrat side) People tried to use his situation when he was 13 to go against him and say he was a nazi collaborative (a frame is used to attack him) - He was not this collaborative though Not a moral panic, more of a conspiracy theory Goes to london, gives to charities A currency speculator Gave money to south africa, invested in china (didn't really work out) Networth: 90 billion (he donated a lot of this)  Spent a lot of his money to give money to poland, hungary, Czech, estonia to try and overthrow communism Conservatives in america were not attacking him as he was anti-communist He then became much more focused on critiquing the american capitalist He is not a socialist communist bc he is a capitalist His idea is making a democratic capitalism Polish pope, union activist; poland got rid of communist government and set up capitalistic market 9/11; he wanted to end this war on terror, trying not to see everyone as a terrorist Very close to obama but obama did not like him He’d give millions of dollars to obama but then expected to have meetings with him to discuss his ideas and be involved Clinton had a better relationship with soros He's a claims-maker Arrest people, incarcerate people, have a war on drugs, high prison sentences He believes to legalize sex work and drugs (he gets attacked by republicans) - Take the money out of it but keep it legalized The republicans see this all as a social problem Pursuit of happiness, freedom (what americans believe) He polarizes Canadian judges don't raise money to get elected Why is he getting attacked? Trump was attacking him Anti-setismism is part of the reason Russians and chinese are critical of his ideas Britain pensioners lost money when he gained a million dollars in 1 day He entered into cultural wars Are billionaires the solutions to the social problem? Allowing money to dominate politics The Case of Hungary He was involved into his donations He was relevantly free of personal scandals, though; - Brazilian gf took him to court - Convicted of insider trading, he paid the fines however He did not give money to israel as he is anti-nationalist He gave money to the roma movement Soros controls the university environment Prof is against private unis, likes public (prof is the same) Prof is studying about soros along with iga, writing about conspiracy theories are not that big in canada  Soros does not fund a lot in canada Canada right wing side does not have a media party to go to, so people with those beliefs go online instead 1. Who is George Soros? Early Life in Budapest (1930): Born to parents practicing Jewish Universalism. Lived through fascism in Hungary and Hitler’s occupation. Surviving the War: Used false papers as a survival strategy. Assisted by a local state official and his wife. Involved in an infamous incident during the war, which became a scandal 70-80 years later. Post-War Years in London: Fled communism in Hungary. Lived on charity while studying. Attended the London School of Economics (LSE), where he was influenced by Karl Popper. Learned investment strategies that later led to his wealth. Becoming Wealthy and Breaking the Bank of England Rise in Finance: Established hedge funds and engaged in currency speculation. Gained fame for his role in "Breaking the Bank of England," earning a reputation as a legendary capitalist. Early Philanthropy:  Initial efforts included projects related to Central Park and death-and-dying initiatives. Focused on human rights, bringing down communism, and protecting/educating dissidents. Dual Strategy in Activism: 1. Worked with elites. 2. Funded grassroots NGO activism. Turning Points: Late 1980s, Early 1990s, and Post-9/11 Promoted reforms from communism to democratic capitalism. Key cases: ○ Poland: Supported Solidarity and market reforms. ○ Soviet Union: Transitioned from Gorbachev to Putin. Supported "Colour Revolutions." Opposed George W. Bush and aimed to end the war on terror after 9/11. A More Partisan Philanthropist Supported Democratic leaders like Obama, Clinton, and Biden. Focused on: ○ War on drugs and mass incarceration. ○ District Attorney elections. ○ Battles against Facebook, China, and Russia. Is Open Society Socialism? Soros’s support extends to: Abortion rights. LGBTQ rights. Roma rights. Drug war reform. Legalization of sex work. Reforming Capitalism Proposed changes:  Increase taxes on the wealthy. Expand regulation. Strengthen social programs. Enhance global governance, particularly in the EU. Soros Today Nearly 90 years old. Transitioning Open Society leadership to his sons. Continues to support: ○ Central European University and global universities. ○ Efforts to counter Trumpism. Why is Soros Attacked? Major Reasons: Anti-Semitism Russia and China Capitalist Exploitation Cultural Wars Political Football Legitimate Issues to Critique: Role of billionaires in politics. Influence in funding and elections. Impact of globalization on national borders. Shaping debates on controversial issues like: ○ Sex work. ○ Prisons and police. ○ Global universities. Minor Scandals: Brazilian girlfriend. French insider-trading case. Controversies on Jewish politics and Israel. Accusations of arrogance. Political Motivations Behind Attacks:  Populist Movements: Brexit and Trump campaigns. Elites leveraging narratives to appeal to non-elites. Fear of cultural changes (e.g., LGBTQ issues). Discrediting critiques on police and prisons. Reputational entrepreneurs capitalizing on controversy. Soros’s Uniqueness: Left-wing philanthropist. Public intellectual. Hands-on with grassroots work. Tackles controversial issues, including Jewish identity. 3. Studying Soros: From Margins to Center Key Researchers: Anna Porter. Iga Mergler. Study Regions: Hungary, Poland, Canada. Research Context: SSHRC grant-funded study over five years. Explores how extreme ideas about Soros moved from fringes to centers of political power (e.g., in the US, Hungary, Poland, and Brazil). Case Studies: Lithuania (2013): Focus on US-Russia dynamics. Attacks on Soros failed due to local context and Lithuania’s history. Local vs. international circulation of conspiracy theories. Hungary: Viktor Orbán’s illiberal democracy. Anti-Soros election posters and scapegoating. Attacks on Central European University and liberal NGOs. Targeted groups: Jews, Roma, and Muslims.  Connections to Trump, Israel, and Putin. Implications for the European Union’s stability. Poland: Soros's role in designing liberal reforms post-Solidarity. Cultural split: Poland A vs. Poland B. Conservative Catholic media and rising nationalism. Social media influence on younger generations. Slovakia: Scapegoating efforts against Soros failed. Journalist murder in 2018 led to protests. Success attributed to: ○ Minor focus on Roma education. ○ Strong democratic opposition and media. ○ Genuine immigration crisis in Hungary overshadowing narratives. Canada: Minor influence compared to other countries. Right-wing media (e.g., Ezra Levant’s Sun TV and Rebel Media) attempted to smear Soros. Lawsuits and retractions occurred. Attempts to link Soros with: ○ Trudeau. ○ Refugee sponsorship. ○ Anti-pipeline protests. Recent mentions: ○ UBC incident. ○ Involvement of Canadian politicians (e.g., Chrystia Freeland). Canadian Right-Wing Online Presence: Faith Goldy, Lauren Southern, Gavin McInnes, Stefan Molyneux. 4. Why Trump Tried to Scapegoat Soros for Reelection Strategy: Change focus from Trump’s own wealth, corruption, and pro-business policies. Depict Democrats as elite and out of touch. Appeal to Evangelicals and pro-Israel voters. Key Narratives: Scapegoating Themes: ○ Black Lives Matter. ○ Latin American immigrants. ○ Race, crime, and riots. ○ Guns and police. Resources Trump Leveraged: Soros’s funding of Democratic Party causes. Cultural wars targeting academics. Drug wars and mass incarceration. District attorney races. What Backfired: Anti-Semitic rhetoric alienated moderates. Emergence of white sympathy for Black Lives Matter. QAnon conspiracies were too extreme for mainstream audiences. Promoters of the Narrative: Tucker Carlson, David Horowitz, Stephen Miller, Newt Gingrich, Candace Owens. Proliferated via social media platforms. Future Research Directions: Anti-vaccination movements. QAnon. Social media extremism. Links to earlier conspiracies like 9/11, JFK, and COVID. Nov 14th Lecture: Haidt - The Anxious Generation Haidt Today Current Role: NYU Business School faculty. Post-"Coddling" Work: ○ Co-founder of Heterodox Academy - This is a show of him arguing that uni’s shouldn't be claims makers, not a place of debate.  - Many liberals & conservatives believe that he’s just cleaning up and we need a a hashers of critiques - Rufo & trump do not like Haidt ○ Focus on capitalism, social media, and democracy. - The book on social media was supposed to be a chapter, but it became a whole book as he realized there was a big mental health crisis around the world through survey data. - He started as a left liberal (like obama), while he was teaching as a prof - He’s a special psychologist teaching in a business school, so he’s not a raging leftist - Became this after the coddling, the tone of his book is a moderate political - If reading that book, we have to enter the realm of politics - His favourite theorist is Durkheim, this influences his viewpoints - He's also influenced by evolutionary psychology ○ Some people think he's going to solve all social problems, others believe he is horrible. Central Focus: Youth and social media. - Has a lens thinking about human brains and how they’ve evolved - Neuroscience, how brains get reshaped during childhood, then into adulthood - The book is not an academic study of social problems but an attempt to be a claims problems and SOLVE social problems - Book is written in a commercial press - Book is an example of public intellectual work - Book is based on peer-reviewed research - He believes the universities cause mental health problems not social media - He has an army of research assistants - If you disagree with him, you need to poke holes, suggest alternatives in book review. Offer critique or analysis of political dynamic, evidence - Is the social problem really as serious as he suggested? Is his attempt at claims making partly a creation of a moral panic? - Hes basically arguing that there's a rewiring of the brains after Gen X - Observing play-based childhood to phone-based childhood - Smartphones, 2010s, created this shift - He argues there is a major mental health crisis in 2010 - Dorothy would suggest there's no way to know which is true when examining who’s arguing vs disagreeing Haidt’s Position Ideology: Moderate, not left-liberal.  Approach: ○ Cautious about political claims. ○ Incorporates Durkheim, evolutionary psychology, and social psychology. ○ Functions as an academic "moral entrepreneur" and claims-maker in the commercial press. Critiques Addressed: ○ Politics, evidence, proposals, moral panic concerns. Diagnosis: The Anxious Generation Key Concepts Transition in Childhood: ○ Play-based to phone-based. Generation Z Characteristics: ○ Born after 1995. ○ First generation was raised with smartphones and social media. Mental Health Crisis: ○ Began post-2010. ○ Rise in anxiety, depression, and related disorders. Developmental Age Groups Children: 0–12 years. Adolescents: 10–20 years. Teens: 12–19 years. Minors: Under 18 years. Impact of Digital Technology Real vs. Virtual World Real-world traits: (1) Embodied. (2) Synchronous. (3) One-to-one communication. (4) High entry barriers - e.g., a family, club, community Major Harms Identified: 1. Sleep deprivation. 2. Social deprivation. 3. Attention fragmentation. 4. Addiction. Two Mental Health Concerns Internalizing Disorders: ○ Anxiety and depression. Externalizing Disorders: ○ Anger, violence, risky behaviors. Gender-Based Analysis Girls: ○ Experience more harm from social media than boys. - The effects on girls on more serious Boys: ○ Comparatively less affected, but not immune. - Video games Evidence Sources Surveys on mental health trends. - Online, phone surveys - After 2010, all around the world, it shows there is an increase in mental health issues Hospital and mortality data. - Relies on this top of data, which is great because it is not fully a self-report Controlled experiments. - Into a lab, different prompts and see how they behave in certain situations Alternative Explanations Considered Economic crises - In canada vs US it is very different - Crash of 2008, housing crisis Inequality  - Racial inequality Haidt’s rebuttal integrates these but focuses on social media. - Worldwide phenomena - He says how could the above explain the mental health crisis if those scenarios didn't happen in other parts of the world? - Starts in countries with high level of social media use Moral panic Comparative Data Spread primarily in the Anglosphere. Key Drivers of Change 1. Parenting styles: ○ Increased supervision, decline of free play nowadays 2. Social media and smartphones. 3. Educational systems and universities. Core Thesis Over-protection in the real world contrasts with under-protection online (social media, predators). - Third parties handle conflicts now instead of parents - He’s quite careful with what he’s saying Historical Parallels 1980s Two Moral Panics that are competing:: ○ Fear of abductions, sexual predators. ○ Decline in playground activities. Prognosis Suggested Interventions  1. Governments: ○ Regulation of social media platforms. 2. Schools: ○ Awareness and educational reforms. 3. Parents: ○ Balanced approaches to technology use. ○ Take smartphones away, or not give until 16 and give flip phones instead because their brains are vulnerable at that age Motivational Frame Presented in a popular format to inspire: ○ Parents. ○ Professionals. ○ Political and organizational stakeholders. Follow-ups via platforms like Substack. - For claimsmakers, public intellectuals, a program for ppl who become famous influencers - Subscription based, you pay for their research Key Takeaway Haidt presents an urgent call for action to address the mental health crisis among Generation Z, driven by digital technology, overprotection offline, and insufficient safeguards online. For Nov 28th exam: - Video on coddling of american mind - Heath article on signs - Video on social media book - Video on porter, conspiracy theories Random notes: - Adorno hate jazz music as he thought it was alienated - LA is a wasteland, tons of commercialization - Cultural industry is making what haidt's saying more radical - Ppl who spend more time on social media are less likely to spe Heaths Article on Sex Work Notes 1. Intersection of Feminist Perspectives and Legal Debates: The article focuses on two Canadian legal cases involving prostitution and polygamy to examine women's sexual agency, harm, and gender inequality. The cases illustrate internal feminist conflicts, termed the "contemporary sex wars," on whether certain sexual practices are oppressive or liberatory. 2. Feminist Dichotomy: Danger vs. Choice Stance: Danger Stance: Prostitution and polygamy are inherently harmful, perpetuate patriarchal dominance, and necessitate criminalization to protect women. Choice Stance: Prostitution and polygamy involve agency; women should have autonomy in choosing their sexual and intimate relationships, challenging broad criminalization. 3. Case Outcomes and Contrasting Legal Perspectives: Prostitution Case (Bedford): ○ Canadian courts struck down laws criminalizing activities related to prostitution, citing violations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. ○ Legal emphasis was placed on minimizing harm and acknowledging women's agency in sex work. Polygamy Case (Reference re: Section 293): ○ Courts upheld the criminalization of polygamy, emphasizing inherent harms and societal dangers. ○ The judgment highlighted tensions between advocating for gender equality and reinforcing state-sanctioned norms like monogamy. 4. Alliance and Conflict Among Feminist and Conservative Groups: Feminist and evangelical groups often aligned uneasily to argue for criminalization, yet with differing motivations (e.g., morality vs. harm reduction). This uneasy coalition underscores the complexities of achieving feminist goals within conservative legal frameworks. 5. Carceral Feminism and its Consequences: The reliance on state mechanisms for enforcing feminist objectives, termed "carceral feminism," often leads to increased state control and unintended negative consequences. This approach sometimes marginalizes the voices of women directly involved in these practices, framing them as victims rather than agents. 6. Critique of Legal and Social Structures: The article critiques both radical feminist and liberal feminist approaches for their limitations in addressing complex realities of women’s lives. It emphasizes the need for nuanced legal understandings of agency, harm, and justice that avoid reinforcing patriarchal or conservative ideals. 7. Broader Implications for Feminist Activism and Legal Reform: The outcomes of these cases demonstrate the challenges feminists face in balancing advocacy for women’s rights with the risks of enabling state control or moral conservatism. Achieving sexual justice requires centering the voices and experiences of affected women while addressing systemic issues like poverty, gender inequality, and colonial legacies. Frances Woolley: Presidential Address Slideshow Analysis 1. The Current State of University Education in Canada Dual Functions of Universities: ○ Research and Knowledge Production. ○ Teaching and Learning/Sorting (credentialing and social capital formation). Barriers to Efficiency: ○ Reputational spirals: Universities allocate resources based on rankings, prioritizing observable factors (e.g., amenities, research output) over unobservable factors like teaching quality. ○ Structural rigidities: High fixed costs (e.g., tenured faculty, infrastructure) and low marginal costs compel universities to grow rather than streamline. ○ Political and institutional factors: Public universities face governance challenges due to provincial funding and lack of national standards. 2. Inefficiencies and Pressures for Reform Sources of Inefficiency: ○ Universities focus on increasing rankings rather than improving educational outcomes. ○ Resources are often misallocated, with limited investment in teaching quality. ○ Admissions are influenced by reputation rather than program fit, distorting student choices. Demographic and Economic Pressures:  ○ Declining student populations and unsustainable provincial funding. ○ Increasing healthcare costs divert provincial resources from education. Technological Changes: ○ Online education and ready-made teaching materials reduce the need for traditional teaching methods but raise concerns about de-skilling. ○ Emerging tools (e.g., MOOCs, alternative credentials) challenge the traditional university model. 3. Challenges in Measuring Educational Outcomes Defining and measuring learning outcomes remain difficult: ○ Current tools (e.g., student evaluations) are inadequate for assessing teaching effectiveness or course content value. ○ Structural incentives for professors prioritize research over teaching improvements. 4. Proposed Directions for Reform Motivating Teaching Excellence: ○ Provincial funding reforms could reward teaching quality (e.g., as suggested by the Drummond Report). ○ Implementing measurable learning outcomes, though challenging and potentially transformative. Addressing Structural Rigidities: ○ Revising tenure and employment contracts to enhance flexibility and accountability. ○ Encouraging retirement to allow for hiring younger faculty, reducing costs. Reforming Graduate Education: ○ Deterritorialization: Create centralized graduate schools (e.g., Scottish Graduate School model) to improve supervisor-student matching and scale economies. ○ Address high PhD dropout rates and poor job market outcomes. 5. Broader Implications and Concluding Thoughts Reforming higher education is difficult due to entrenched structures and political complexities. Complacency risks perpetuating inefficiencies, undermining the value of university education in a changing world. Emphasis on evidence-based strategies and gradual, scalable reforms to enhance efficiency and outcomes in Canadian universities. Anna Porter Video Thinks Soros is incredibly famous Soro wants to make the world a better place Mentions Soros foundations has spent 16 billion dollars Soro has the second largest philanthropic organization in the US He initially wanted to shut down the foundation before he dies Most vilifying philanthropist of all time He is greatly hated by the right wing Anti-soros = anti-semitic Putin issued an arrest warrant against him Trump does not like him either