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Retel Tulio's avatar

The problem with navel-gazing is that there is a world out there, fundamentally predatorial, in which the rest of us are struggling to maintain a civilization.

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Douglas Giles's avatar

Amazing article with so much to digest and ponder. You ask the great question, "Do we want to value connection or independence?" Is it too idealistic to answer "both?" Our freedoms are defined in terms of our place and our connections, so our independence is a product of our interdependence.

On gender, I am inclined to the view that we do well to end gender roles, admit that sex is not gender, and allow for everyone to be who they are as they are.

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Erica Lucast Stonestreet's avatar

"Our independence is a product of our interdependence"--well said! I agree that it's both. (Hey, in logic, "or" is viewed as inclusive, even though that's not how we generally use it in English!)

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Rukshana's avatar

Wow, this is really interesting! I had never really thought about the connection between mathematics, gender characteristics, and cultural values.

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Erica Lucast Stonestreet's avatar

Eugenia Cheng is really good at making these connections. She writes some fun stuff.

I team-teach a "Gender and Math" honors course with Robert Campbell, if you've met him. It's full of discussion about gender norms intersecting with mathematical culture. Super interesting stuff that we were never trained to see!

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Betsy Johnson's avatar

Fascinating! Thank you!

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