What happens when public policy meets the complex world of modern gender identity? Our guest today is Kathleen Stock, a former professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex, author of the critically-acclaimed "Material Girls", and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) awardee. Kathleen joins host John Tomasi to navigate the often-tense intersection of trans rights, gender identity, and academic freedom. Despite facing protests, security threats, and professional challenges, Kathleen steadfastly advocates for open inquiry and reasoned debate.

Today, John and Kathleen discuss the controversial landscape of transgender issues. Kathleen criticizes the medicalization of gender questioning and the societal pressure it places on individuals. She explains how academic and societal frameworks have rapidly evolved with the influence of activism, particularly examining the ramifications for single-sex spaces and public policies.

In This Episode:

• Criticism of the medicalization of gender questioning
• The societal impact of Stonewall’s policy changes and the Gender Recognition Act
• Challenges faced by Kathleen in professional settings due to her views
• Debates over the inclusion of trans women in single-sex spaces and sports
• The role of free speech and reason in academic discourse
• Concerns for the future of universities and academic freedom

Follow Kathleen on X here: https://x.com/Docstockk

Check out her book Material Girls: https://a.co/d/02sKzGz9

About Kathleen:

Kathleen Stock is a contributing writer at UnHerd and a co-director of The Lesbian Project. She is the author of Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism (Little Brown 2021) and Only Imagine: Fiction, Interpretation and Imagination (Oxford University Press 2017). Until 2021, she was a Professor of Philosophy at Sussex University. In the last few years, she has written for UK national publications on a range of issues, especially on sex, gender, and women's rights. In 2024, she was highly commended for her UnHerd columns at the UK Press Awards; in 2022, she was voted World’s Top Thinker in Prospect Magazine. She was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to higher education in 2020.

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What happens when foundational scientific concepts clash with modern identity politics? Today, our guest is Elizabeth Weiss, professor emeritus of anthropology at San José State University, Segal Center research fellow, and a renowned author. Her latest book, "On the War Path: My Battles with Indians, Pretendians, and Woke Warriors", is now available.

Weiss recounts her tumultuous journey through academia and the underlying conflicts within anthropology. These conflicts range from the debate between scientific knowledge and postmodern truths to the intersection of identity politics with the discipline. She also discusses the controversy surrounding the cancellation of a panel on the concept of binary sex by major anthropological associations, only for it to gain global attention after being reinstated.

Join us as Elizabeth Weiss shares her steadfast commitment to objective knowledge and truth, her experiences with being canceled, and her aspirations for reform within the field of anthropology.

In This Episode:

• Controversy over the binary concept of sex
• Retraction of anthropology panel on sex
• Elizabeth Weiss's academic journey and research
• Challenges in anthropology and repatriation laws
• Elizabeth Weiss's lawsuit and retirement settlement

Follow Elizabeth on X here: https://twitter.com/eweissunburied

Check out her latest book: https://a.co/d/9Os3MGa

About Elizabeth:

Elizabeth Weiss is professor emeritus of anthropology at San José State University. She's a 2023-2024 Faculty Fellow at the Mike & Sofia Segal Center for Academic Pluralism. She is on the board of the National Association of Scholars. Her latest book is On the Warpath: My Battles with Indians, Pretendians, and Woke Warriors (Academic Press, 2024).

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🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Can emotional connections to our identities justify restrictions on free speech? This provocative episode of Heterodox Out Loud explores the deep tension between personal relationships and public discussions. Host John Tomasi sits down with Jilian Lederman, a graduate of Brown University and a strong advocate for free speech. Together, they examine the complex landscape of free expression on university campuses, focusing on the oppressor-oppressed dynamic and its impact on intellectual diversity and dialogue.

Jilian shares her experiences in political discourse and pro-Israel advocacy, highlighting the intimidation and harassment faced by Jewish and other marginalized students. We also explore her op-ed for The New York Times and her efforts to promote open inquiry and robust debate through various initiatives and student organizations. The episode also touches on changing commitments to free speech principles and creating a more inclusive academic environment.

In This Episode:

• Challenges to campus free speech principles

• Critique of the oppressor-oppressed dichotomy

• Why universities need more intellectual diversity

• The impact of identity politics on student life

• Advocacy for classic free speech doctrines

About Jilian:

Jillian Lederman is a 2024 graduate of Brown University, where she studied political science and economics. While in college, she served as the Executive Chair of Hillel International’s Israel Leadership Network, the President of Brown Students for Israel, co-president of Free Inquiry at Brown, and a writer and editor for The Brown Political Review. She is also a Research Assistant for Heterodox Academy. Her writing has been published in The New York Times and The Hill, and she has been interviewed on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, SiriusXM, and News Nation. This fall, she will begin work as an editorial fellow at The Wall Street Journal.

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🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud