{"id":2064497,"date":"2023-10-12T08:06:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T12:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chilling-message-professors-criticize-anthropology-associations-for-canceling-talk-on-sex-and-gender\/"},"modified":"2023-10-12T08:11:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T12:11:20","slug":"chilling-message-professors-criticize-anthropology-associations-for-canceling-talk-on-sex-and-gender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chilling-message-professors-criticize-anthropology-associations-for-canceling-talk-on-sex-and-gender\/","title":{"rendered":"Professors slam anthropology associations for canceling sex and gender talk."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchilling-message-professors-criticize-anthropology-associations-for-canceling-talk-on-sex-and-gender%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2064497&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<p>A group of professors strongly\u200d criticized the American Anthropological Association\u2064 (AAA) and Canadian Anthropology \u200bSociety (CASCA) for canceling a talk on biological sex and gender in\u2064 order to appease those who were offended by the panelists&#8217; views.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;We are deeply concerned by the cancellation of a previously approved panel&#8230; over vague and \u2062subjective concerns that the panelists&#8217; views on biological sex \u200cwould cause &#8216;harm,'&#8221; said\u2062 the Sept. 29 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefire.org\/research-learn\/open-letter-american-anthropological-association-and-canadian-anthropology-society\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> published by the\u2063 Foundation for\u2064 Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).<\/p>\n<p>Last month, the AAA and CASCA \u200ccanceled a\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/anthropology-session-on-importance-of-biological-sex-canceled-to-appease-lgbt-advocates-5501474\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">session<\/a> titled &#8220;Let&#8217;s Talk\u200c About Sex, Baby: Why biological sex remains a necessary analytic category in Anthropology&#8221; scheduled\u200d for November. The panel focused on the importance \u2064of &#8220;sex&#8221; in the field\u200d of anthropology rather \u2062than &#8220;gender.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>It was set to discuss why &#8220;sex\u200d identification\u2014whether an individual was male or female\u2014using\u200d the skeleton is one of the most fundamental components in\u200c bioarchaeology and \u200cforensic anthropology.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/barbara-kay-anthropology-associations-pivot-to-social-justice-model-of-academic-inquiry-is-anti-science-5502211?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Barbara Kay: Anthropology Associations\u2019 Pivot\u200c to Social-Justice Model of Academic Inquiry Is Anti-Science<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/3\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/barbara-kay-anthropology-associations-pivot-to-social-justice-model-of-academic-inquiry-is-anti-science-5502211?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/anthropology-session-on-importance-of-biological-sex-canceled-to-appease-lgbt-advocates-5501474?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Anthropology Session on Importance of Biological Sex Canceled\u200b to Appease LGBT Advocates<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/30\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/anthropology-session-on-importance-of-biological-sex-canceled-to-appease-lgbt-advocates-5501474?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In a\u2064 Sept. 28 news <a href=\"https:\/\/americananthro.org\/news\/no-place-for-transphobia-in-anthropology-session-pulled-from-annual-meeting-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">release<\/a> \u2064 titled\u200c &#8220;No Place for Transphobia in\u2063 Anthropology,&#8221; \u2062AAA claimed that the panel was rejected because it was &#8220;framed in ways that\u2062 do harm to vulnerable members of our\u200b community.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The organization accused panelists of attempting\u200b to &#8220;advance a &#8216;scientific&#8217; reason to question the\u2063 humanity of already marginalized groups of people,\u200b in this case, those who exist outside\u2064 a strict\u200d and narrow sex\/gender binary.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The FIRE <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefire.org\/research-learn\/open-letter-american-anthropological-association-and-canadian-anthropology-society\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> strongly \u2064criticized AAA and CASCA, stating that the cancellation sends\u200d a &#8220;chilling \u2064message&#8221; \u200cto social scientists \u2063that debates on gender and sex issues are no longer\u2062 allowed \u2064to be freely\u200d discussed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The \u2062letter pointed out that the \u200borganizations&#8217; argument for canceling the panel due to a lack of scientific\u200b rigor &#8220;rings \u200bhollow&#8221; since both groups had previously approved the\u200b panel. It suggested that\u2062 the cancellation was intended to &#8220;placate those offended by\u200d the panelists&#8217; views.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Those who find the panelists&#8217; \u200bviews harmful or incorrect are entitled to their opinion. However, \u2064their \u2064objections do not justify shutting down \u200bthe discussion. On the contrary, this situation highlights the need for open \u200band\u2062 robust dialogue that explores different perspectives.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Canceling the panel\u200c represents a retreat from the AAA&#8217;s \u200cadmirable mission of &#8216;advancing human \u2062understanding and applying this understanding to the world&#8217;s \u2062most pressing problems,'&#8221; the letter\u2064 stated.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That mission requires unwavering dedication to free inquiry\u2062 and open dialogue. It cannot coexist with inherently subjective standards\u2062 of &#8216;harm,&#8217; &#8216;safety,&#8217; and\u2062 &#8216;dignity&#8217; \u2064that are inevitably used to suppress ideas that\u200c cause\u2064 discomfort or conflict with certain political or ideological commitments.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The letter emphasized that the free exchange of ideas is the only way to &#8220;produce and\u2062 refine knowledge.&#8221; If only \u200done side is allowed to speak, observers will\u2064 understandably lose trust \u2063in the claims and\u2063 findings, knowing that dissenting voices have been silenced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Non-Binary Anthropology<\/h2>\n<p>On Sept. 29, \u200cthe AAA \u2063further justified its decision to cancel the panel by posting a &#8220;letter of\u2064 support&#8221; from three anthropologists who argued that human sex and gender categories are\u2063 not simple or\u2063 binary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;Looking beyond humans, we see three forms of the adult orangutan. Does this represent a sex binary? Significant \u200bpercentages of many reptile species have \u2064intersex \u200bgenitalia. Are we still trying \u2062to call sex a binary? The binary limits the kinds of questions we can ask and therefore limits the\u200d scope of \u200dour science,&#8221; they wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In an Oct. 4 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Evolutionistrue\/status\/1709615749474742538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> \u200bon X, Jerry Coyne, an emeritus professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago,\u2063 criticized the\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/european-union-threatens-to-withhold-aid-from-parts-of-poland-over-lgbtq-stance\/\" title=\"European Union Threatens To Withhold Aid From Parts Of Poland Over LGBTQ Stance\">arguments put forward<\/a> by the three anthropologists.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;3 academics deny that human sex is binary, a denial\u200d that\u2064 is purely ideological.\u200c Why \u200dis\u2062 human sex NOT binary but\u200c sex in flies, lions, turtles, and sharks IS \u2063binary? Because biological \u2063truth\u2062 is mistakenly thought to hurt transsexual and nonbinary\u2064 folks,&#8221; he <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Evolutionistrue\/status\/1709615749474742538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Meanwhile, the advocacy group Heterodox Academy (HxA) <a href=\"https:\/\/heterodoxacademy.org\/announcements\/uncanceled-heterodox-academy-to-host-virtual-canceled-panel-on-sex-in-anthropology-on-november-8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a> that they will host a virtual version of the\u2064 panel canceled\u200c by AAA and CASCA on Nov. 8. The virtual event will\u2063 feature the \u2063panel talks \u200das originally\u200c planned and will\u2064 last for two hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>All five female professors who\u200d were\u200b originally scheduled to appear on the panel will participate in the virtual event.<\/p>\n<p>John Tomasi, the president of Heterodox Academy, stated that &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chilling-message-professors-criticize-anthropology-associations-for-canceling-talk-on-sex-and-gender\/\" title=\"Professors slam anthropology associations for canceling sex and gender talk.\">de-platforming distinguished scholars<\/a> for having &#8216;harmful&#8217; ideas about their own fields of expertise \u2063is a political action, not an academic one.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>AAA and CASCA&#8217;s cancellation \u200bis \u200cpart of a trend of similar cancellations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In late September, the American \u2062Public Square (APS), an organization that aims\u2062 to bridge the partisan divide\u2063 through \u200bcivil discourse, \u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/americanpublicsquare.org\/event\/gender-and-identity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">canceled<\/a> a talk on &#8220;Exploring Gender and Identities&#8221; after two \u200crepresentatives for transgender perspectives withdrew from the event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>One of the participants in the \u200ctalk was Justice Horn, chair of the Kansas City LGBTQ Commission. In\u2062 a Sept. 21 X <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JusticeHorn_\/status\/1704617460857507929\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> announcing his\u200b withdrawal, Mr. Horn mentioned receiving a call from a &#8220;trans kiddo&#8221; who pleaded with him not to be part of the panel and not to \u200cgive anti-Trans people a platform.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mr. Horn explained that he chose not \u2063to participate in order to \u200bavoid giving a &#8220;platform to people who\u200d are TERFs and\u2062 traitors to our community.&#8221; TERF stands for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stanford-staff-condemns-transphobic-j-k-rowling-in-light-of-dorms-harry-potter-themed-floor\/\" title=\"Stanford Staff Condemns \u2018Transphobic\u2019 J.K. Rowling In Light Of Dorm\u2019s Harry Potter-Themed Floor\">trans-exclusionary radical feminists<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What concerns were expressed in the letter by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression regarding the cancellation of the panel<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ology: Session Pulled from Annual Meeting Program,&#8221; the AAA said they canceled the session due to concerns about the potential harm it could cause to transgender and non-binary individuals. They stated that the panel failed\u200c to adequately address the complexity and \u200cdiversity of gender identities and claimed that the discussion could contribute to the marginalization of certain groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The decision to cancel the panel has sparked controversy and led to allegations of censorship and ideological bias\u2062 within the AAA \u2062and CASCA. Critics argue that\u2063 by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaines-on-rapinoe-welcoming-trans-athletes-classic-case-of-virtue-signaling\/\" title=\"Gaines calls Rapinoe's support for trans athletes 'virtue signaling.'\">silencing opposing viewpoints<\/a>, these organizations are \u200bundermining\u200d academic freedom and stifling intellectual debate.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2062letter by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), co-signed by\u2062 over 60 professors from institutions \u2064across the\u200c United States \u200dand Canada, \u2062expressed concern that the cancellation sets a dangerous precedent. It suggests that controversial topics and perspectives can be \u200bsilenced simply because they may offend or discomfort some individuals.<\/p>\n<p>The letter states, &#8220;The cancellation \u200dof this event sends a message that presenting a\u2064 strong scientific argument can be suppressed if the\u2064 audience feels threatened \u2062by its implications, regardless of the \u2063merit of the argument or \u2063whether\u200b it \u2064is presented respectfully.&#8221; It emphasizes the importance of free and open inquiry in academia, urging the\u200b AAA and CASCA to foster an environment that encourages diverse perspectives\u2063 and respectful dialogue.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy surrounding the \u2062cancellation of the\u200b panel highlights the ongoing tension between the\u200b principles of\u200d academic freedom and the desire to create inclusive and safe spaces\u200d for marginalized communities. While it is essential \u2063to protect the rights and well-being of transgender and non-binary individuals, it is also crucial to ensure that academic institutions remain spaces for rigorous intellectual exploration \u2064and debate.<\/p>\n<p>Some argue that the cancellation \u2062of the panel inhibits the advancement of\u2063 knowledge and prevents the \u200dexamination \u2064of important scientific questions. The discussion on biological sex and gender \u2064is not \u200conly relevant to anthropology but also to various fields of study, \u200bincluding biology, sociology, and psychology. By avoiding or suppressing these conversations, valuable insights and understanding may be lost.<\/p>\n<p>While it is essential\u2063 to \u2062approach these discussions with sensitivity and respect, it is\u2064 equally important to foster an environment where \u2062challenging ideas can\u2064 be scrutinized, debated, and critiqued. Academic institutions have a \u2062responsibility to promote intellectual\u2062 diversity and to uphold \u200bthe principles of academic freedom, which include the \u200bprotection of controversial or \u200dunpopular viewpoints.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately,\u200d the controversy surrounding the cancellation of the panel on \u2063biological sex and gender highlights the need for\u2062 ongoing dialogue and engagement. It is crucial for academic institutions, like the AAA and CASCA, to\u2064 engage in meaningful conversations that consider diverse perspectives and foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, respect,\u2062 and academic freedom.<\/p>\n<p>As societies continue to navigate complex\u2064 issues related to sex and gender, it is \u200dessential to\u2063 create\u200b spaces \u200bwhere rigorous academic inquiry can \u200ctake place without fear of censorship or reprisal. It is through thoughtful and constructive\u200d dialogue that a deeper understanding of these complexities can be achieved, benefiting both academic scholarship and society as a whole.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>sex and gender may offend some individuals. This decision undermines academic freedom and stifles open dialogue within the field of anthropology. It is essential to uphold the principles of intellectual diversity and allow for the exploration of different perspectives, even if they challenge prevailing beliefs. The AAA and CASCA should reconsider their decision and prioritize academic integrity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":186,"featured_media":2064498,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2064497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/186"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2064497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064497\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2064498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2064497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2064497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2064497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}