Matthijs Mandemaker

Helen Andrews dropped a blunt explanation for why wokeness proved so hard to kill: It’s rooted in feminine patterns of conflict — where disagreement isn’t debated, it’s treated as emotional harm that must be punished or silenced. Instead of open argument (like James Damore’s memo at Google), the response became “I can’t believe you said that” followed by attempts to get the person fired. Men tend to argue, resolve, and move on. Women, she argues, are more likely to hold onto grievances. If wokeness is partly a byproduct of rapid feminization of institutions, Andrews warns it won’t simply vanish with one election. It may be structural. She points to overly “HR-ified” workplaces where feminine preferences for emotional safety now dominate promotions, culture, and daily life — often sidelining masculine strengths in the process. Do you think some institutions have become too feminized in ways that suppress open debate and masculine virtues? Or is this framing off-base?

Men and women read different books — here’s what they’re drawn to: