Psychology Today is in deep doo-doo, I think, over a recent racist rant (which it has since taken down) it allowed to be published on its website. Who is this dude, Satoshi Kanazawa, a blogger for the publication, who claimed “scientific evidence” that black women are less attractive than other races, and actually set it out in an article entitled, “Why Are Black Women Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women?” Psychology Today published it on its website. If you can stomach it, you can read it here. OMG. WTF? WTS (Where To Start)?
Dr. Mikhail Lyubansky, a PhD in the Psychology Department of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, mocked Kanazawa’s findings in his own article – you can read it here. Thank you, Dr. Lyubansky – reading your article confirmed what I suspected, that this “blogger” has little to no support in the real scientific community.
But that doesn’t answer the real question: Why did Psychology Today publish such garbage? How is it that an unvetted blogger was allowed to publish something that amounted to stereotypical racism? This is far from an “oops” . . . in this climate of racial tension, with hate groups multiplying like cockroaches, it’s dangerous to put a bullseye on a group of people, to further the divisiveness that’s already inherent in this culture.
I could rant all day – but I’m nauseous. I’ll, instead, let my Facebook friends answer the call for me. Are you listening, Psychology Today? You’re about to find out what happens when your business model insults half the population.
Linda - “Disturbing, and the author has it right; this is no longer the time when it's laughable to sound stupid and/or racist. This Bullshit needs to stop - NOW.” (Note: The author she refers to is the author of a critical piece about this racist scribe.)
Denny – “Some men would say its just the opposite . Black women are more attractive than others. Physically or mentally.” Yes, Denny, exactly – it’s subjective, not scientific!
Kimberly – “Beautiful comes in all races are these idiots for real? I read that magazine because I have a degree in psychology but now, I really want to read that article! No disrespect to any ladies out there but if black women are less attractive, why do some women spend so much time and energy trying to get some more color?” Oh oh, PT, I think you just lost a reader.
Dolores – “You have got to be kidding. Some of the most gorgeous women I know are black or brown-skinned. I can't tell you, at 63, fair-skinned Irish-English heritage, how many times I have wished for more melanin! The wrinkles have taken on a life of their own... :/ This superiority thing based on skin color is so 18th century!”
Julie – “. . . I spend hours in the sun all summer to try to get brown skin . . . and I'm sickened at the implication. This is insulting to all women, not just Black women - as though we don't see the beauty in each other!And aren't going to stand up for each other when an ENTIRE FUCKING GROUP OF US is attacked.”
Jennifer – “Exactly, Julie. A lot women have bought into the "divide and conquer" and gleefully attack one another, continally. I have seen and been subjected to some shit. This is despicable, evil race-baiting and nothing more. It reflects poorly on women, but this is extremely abusive to Black women.”
Dord – “Why in gods green fuck would the run that?”
Sandra – “Subjective analysis (aka opinion) is not science and this Satoshi Kanazawa is just trying to justify his non-attraction to black women with non-scientific based theory. Note the article has been pulled indicating that the profit motive is more 'scienticif' than the psycological one.”
Trudi – “That is terrible and what a terrible thing to write on psychology today.”
Cheri – “This is just unspeakable racist hatred.”
Hundreds of comments (this is just a handful) – from men and women. You listening, Psychology Today? Racism isn’t tolerated. You drew the line in the sand – so now be prepared to be on the wrong side.
Psychology Today’s motives are unclear; such carelessness is inexcusable. The notion that women (and men, as well) are not going to rise up and defend each other when an entire segment of the female population is racially insulted and degraded is naïve thinking, dangerous thinking. We women – particularly adult women, those who might read Psychology Today – are dangerous to businesses when we’re outraged. We tend to close the pocketbooks – and encourage others to do the same.
If Psychology Today wanted to tank its on-line business, and damage whatever reputation it had to begin with, it accomplished it with one unvetted blog.
Bravo, PT. You really stepped in it this time.
Comments