Trust me, I love fiction as much as the next girl. But to broaden my horizons, venture into the nonfiction pool, and expand my knowledge of pop culture and current affairs, I recently subscribed to The New York Times. I have fallen head over heels in love with the opinion and essay columns. As it turns out, people are brilliant and have stuff to say that’s worth listening to! Here’s a roundup of my favorites from the month of February.
- “Why People Fail to Notice Horrors Around Them”
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In this opinion piece, a neuroscience professor at University College London and M.I.T. and a law professor from Harvard use brain science to pose and answer the question: Why do people fail to notice the horrors around them as they’re happening?
They explore how individuals can accept things like war, genocide, and oppression. They concluded that a great part of it is due to habituation, a phenomenon where people respond less to constant or slowly changing stimuli. For example, your brain is initially overwhelmed by the aroma of coffee when first entering a coffee shop, only to eventually tune it out after spending time inside.
They argue that this extends to complex social circumstances. This can desensitize people to immorality and potentially increase the likelihood that they’ll become involved.
In the end, it urges readers to diversify experiences and resist normalization, ending with the poignant quote: “We must learn how to be surprised, not to adjust ourselves.”
Whew. It’s surreal finding answers to questions I didn’t even know I had.
- “When Your Technical Skills Are Eclipsed, Your Humanity Will Matter More Than Ever”
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Are you a humanities or communications major? Well, contrary to what you might’ve heard your entire college career, this article says it’s a good thing!
In the digital modern world, this article takes note of the shift favoring human qualities and soft skills over technological ones in the workspace.
The rise of AI makes it seem like jobs and careers, such as software engineering and computer science, may be practically obsolete. There will likely be more lenience on people skills and communication rather than the technical skills they rely on now.
The insightful perspective of Minouche Shafik, the current president of Columbia University, sheds light on the past, present, and future roles in the workplace. She stated, “In the past, jobs were about muscles. Now they’re about brains, but in the future, they’ll be about the heart.”
To all my fellow yappers out there, it’s our time to shine.
- “Kicking Native People Off Their Land Is a Horrible Way to Save the Planet”
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Delving into the global landscape, this piece is by a law professor and faculty chair of the Indigenous People’s Law and Policy program at the University of Arizona. It exposes a troubling trend where countries justify displacing Indigenous communities in the name of environmental preservation.
Is it just me, or does this feel counterproductive?
The article argues that, unlike Western nations where native populations have secure tenure, many African, Asian, and Latin American Indigenous peoples lack such protections. This leaves them vulnerable to forced relocations.
As grim as it sounds, the article points out a silver lining through it all: a more ethical approach that works best for both the native populations and conservation efforts. But I refuse to give away any spoilers, so I guess you’ll have to read to find out…
Either way, it’s clear that if things don’t change, then “the world’s urgently needed conservation and climate reduction goals will have, in effect, been purchased at the expense of the world’s Indigenous peoples.” I mean, the title says it all.
- “Toxic Beauty Standards Can Be Passed Down”
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Now here’s a hot topic. Remember like, a month ago, when everyone was going crazy because a bunch of 12-year-olds were raiding Sephora stores for their… retinol?
Well, in this article, a mother shares her perspective on the younger half of Gen Z’s anti-aging obsession, pointing out that the craze is reminiscent of the diet culture toxicity she grew up with as a millennial.
Using her point of view as both a mother and a daughter, she looks back at the ways her mother perpetuated diet culture throughout her childhood and the repercussions she has dealt with her whole life because of it. Through this, she hopes to point out the vital role mothers play in changing the narrative for current and future generations.
She writes, “Mothers are both victims and perpetrators of a culture that sells women the lie that we aren’t enough exactly as we are. And yet, if a mother’s insecurity can fuel her daughter’s own self-loathing, a mother’s radical self-love might just protect and even heal her daughter from a toxic culture.”
Did you feel your brain expand as you read these articles? Crazy, right? Reference these at your next dinner party or job interview and watch as jaws drop in awe at your sophisticated cultural acumen. Knowledge is one of those things that no one can take away from you, so happy reading!
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