Rethinking Feminism and Gender Through Evolutionary Science with Marc Defant

In this week’s episode, Jennifer welcomes Professor Marc Defant from the University of South Florida. Marc is a renowned geology and geochemistry professor specializing in the study of volcanoes, the geochemistry of volcanic rocks, and mantle processes. With decades of experience researching volcanoes worldwide—including Russia—Marc has recently explored the intersection of evolutionary psychology and feminist studies. He is the author of the peer-reviewed paper, "Evolutionary Psychology and the Crisis of Empirical Rigor," which challenges mainstream academic views on social construction, feminism, and scientific rigor in sociocultural discourse.

Jennifer and Marc dig into the controversial relationship between evolutionary psychology and modern feminist theories. Marc shares his perspective on how biological evolution shaped human social structures, including the origins of patriarchy, mate selection criteria, and gender dynamics both in ancestral and contemporary societies. They discuss the clash between scientific rigor and politically motivated ideologies within academic feminist studies, particularly around issues like social construction, beauty, health, and fat studies. The episode also explores societal trends like the impact of "safe at any size" movements, generational shifts in health and education, and Marc’s critique of wokeism and its ties to gender representation in professional fields. This conversation is packed with candid observations, scientific reasoning, and reflections on how political culture often overshadows empirical evidence in academia.

"One thing a lot of women don't realize is back in a hunter gather society,  you were either breastfeeding a baby, lactating, or having another child. They stayed pregnant until they couldn't have children anymore. So that's created a society that we have today where men are in leadership roles."

 - Marc Defant

This week on Political Contessa:

• The evolutionary psychology behind patriarchy and gender-based social roles
• Issues of empirical rigor in feminist studies and social construction theory
• How societal expectations about beauty and health intersect with biology
• Discussion of “safe at any size” and health implications for younger generations
• Contrast between male and female approaches to competition and leadership
• The impact of generational upbringing, career shifts, and family structures on women’s choices
• Wokeism, gender dominance in professional fields, and freedom of speech
• Insights on mate selection and resource investment across cultures

Connect with Marc Defant:

• Website: https://www.marcdefant.com
• University of South Florida Faculty Profile: https://usf.academia.edu/MarcDefant
• ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marc-Defant
• Peer-reviewed paper: "Evolutionary Psychology and the Crisis of Empirical Rigor" (contact Marc for access)

Resources Mentioned:

• Robert Wright’s "The Moral Animal"
• Helen Andrews’ essay “The Great Feminization” for Compact Magazine
• Corey Clark’s research on polling and gender differences in views on free speech

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