Why I Fight.

[Silvanus]

I've actually heard the opposite: at least in their 20's, women without kids actually earn MORE (on average) than men without kids:
http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/12/women-wage-gap-cx_wf_0512earningmore.html

Well, it's claim against claim. For what it's worth, that Farrell article seems pretty perfunctory, short, and uncited.

If I can find the source I had before, I'll edit and post it.

I honestly think the problem is the complete opposite: I think people are far too willing to believe anything they're told just so long as it matches up with their perception of "how the world is".

To give a perfect example, look at the Duke Lacrosse rape scandal (Wikipedia it if unfamiliar). In a nutshell, three white lacrosse players at Duke University (a very prestigious and "preppy" school) were accused of raping a poor black stripper. Immediately it dominated the airwaves, and many people had basically already decided long before any evidence came out that they were guilty. Why? Why no presumption of innocence in this particular case?

In my opinion, it's because those people wanted it to be true, because it so perfectly fit their perception of "how the world is". 3 rich, white, probably right-wing kids taking advantage of a poor black woman and thinking they'd get away with it thanks to them being rich and having "white male privilege"? You couldn't write propaganda this perfect if you tried.

So people wanted it to be true, and therefore they didn't bother to check facts or wait for evidence or anything, they just needed vindication to know that their worldview was correct. And to me, this is why people so often swallow anything they're told without bothering to check on it.

People almost always tend to assume guilt in publicised criminal proceedings; it's not unique to cases that fit that particular narrative.

People react in different ways, because these are different kinds of problem. If somebody has been arrested for a crime, and the papers are carrying descriptions of the crime alongside their face, many often assume guilt-- a major reason is that it's just one (or two, or a few) people at fault. If they are found guilty and charged, people feel that the problem is dealt with. Rage is assuaged and it's off their minds by the time it's all over.

Compare this with issues like the pay gap, or global warming. These cannot be solved by arresting a few perpetrators, because they are problems that society as a whole would have to deal with. They are too big, too difficult to get your head around, too ongoing.

That's when people start arguing that they don't exist at all. The common thread is that in both cases, many people opt to believe the most comfortable scenario: the crime was committed, but the perpetrator has been caught; the big issue, which cannot be dealt with quickly or easily, doesn't exist.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

SNIP

Farrell has written several books on the subject, recommended reading. I especially like him because, as I've noted, he's an ardent feminist (the only man in history elected to be the NOW President 3 times) and was once a true believer in the "wage gap".

Ok, to give another example(s): the anti-GMO movement, as well as the anti-vaccine movement. Despite the fact that there's barely a shred of evidence that GMO foods are worse for you than non-GMO foods, or that vaccines cause autism, people have jumped on the "GMOs and vaccines are bad" bandwagon like it's going out of style. Why?

In my opinion, because it fits their worldview. "GMOs and vaccines are made by corporations, and corporations are evil, therefore GMOs and vaccines must be evil", and thus people immediately subscribe to that belief without asking difficult questions or bothering to do any research.

 

[Silvanus]

Ok, to give another example(s): the anti-GMO movement, as well as the anti-vaccine movement. Despite the fact that there's barely a shred of evidence that GMO foods are worse for you than non-GMO foods, or that vaccines cause autism, people have jumped on the "GMOs and vaccines are bad" bandwagon like it's going out of style. Why?

That's a pretty interesting question, I'd agree.

I would think the difference is that those conspiracy theories put the government and/or companies at fault, rather than average people. Complaining is all that is necessary or manageable on their part. The idea that women and men are still not equal, on the other hand, would suggest there's something we need to do.

I can see where you're coming from, though.