Western Culture Isn't Feminized, It's Transgender

Writer Helen Andrews turned a viral speech into an essay for Compact that’s been driving the Internet wild since it published Oct. 16. She argues woke culture is the inevitable result of women taking over the majority of academia and other pivotal industries such as law, media, and medicine: “Everything you think of as ‘wokeness’ is simply an epiphenomenon of demographic feminization.” Andrews posits that wokeness prioritizes feminine traits over masculine ones, such as empathy over rationality and safety over risk.

However, some critics argue that it is inaccurate to label society as feminized. They point to the troubling Western fertility crisis, where 64 percent of American women under 50 express a desire not to have children, as evidence that femininity is not being celebrated. Additionally, the rise of immodesty in culture, with conservative families allowing daughters to wear revealing clothing, further contradicts the notion of a feminine society.

The indifference towards children, highlighted during the Covid lockdowns, is also seen as a rejection of feminine values. Critics argue that prioritizing adult concerns over children's futures is not a feminine trait. They assert that the cultural landscape reflects a reversal of traditional gender roles, where women are encouraged to adopt masculine behaviors and men are pushed towards femininity, resulting in societal dysfunction.

Andrews' thesis is also challenged on the grounds that it oversimplifies the complexities of identity politics and cultural Marxism. Critics contend that these ideologies were largely shaped by male figures and that the responsibility for the current state of cultural institutions cannot solely rest on women. They argue that men have historically played a significant role in allowing these ideologies to flourish by abandoning traditional values.

The assertion that wokeness is merely a feminine behavior pattern applied to institutions where women were previously underrepresented is contested. Critics maintain that the manipulation and subversion seen in cancel culture originated with men, dating back to historical figures like Machiavelli. They argue that the shift towards relativism in academia and other institutions was facilitated by men who failed to uphold foundational principles.

While Andrews' call for women to take responsibility for their actions is commendable, critics argue that it should not absolve men of their equal share of responsibility in the cultural decline. They emphasize that both genders must acknowledge their roles in the current societal dynamics.

In conclusion, the debate surrounding the characterization of Western culture as feminized versus transgender highlights the complexities of gender roles and societal values. It raises questions about the responsibilities of both men and women in shaping cultural narratives and the implications of these dynamics for future generations.