Barbara Kay: The experiment that turned popular gender theory on its head

The “something” that shook their world? A 2011 television documentary broadcast by Norwegian State Television. Made by popular satirical comedian Harald Elia (who also holds a degree in social sciences), “Hjernevask—Norwegian for “Brainwashing” exposed the unscientific character of the NIKK and its research.

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Voir le documentaire Hjernevask (Brainwash) The Gender Equality Paradox

Résumé

Le NIKK (Nordic Gender Institute ) était le vaisseau amiral et la caution scientifique de la théorie du genre : les différences entre les hommes et les femmes sont purement culturelles et artificiellement imposées par la société, sans le moindre fondement biologique.

En 2011, Harald Eia un scénariste, acteur et cinéaste norvégien essaie comprendre la théorie du genre. On le suit pas à pas dans ce documentaire intitulé Hjernevask (lavage de cerveau).

D’abord il constate l’évidence : même si la Norvège est depuis des années le pays le plus en avance pour l’égalité hommes-femmes, certains métiers sont pratiquement réservés aux hommes ( construction, ingénieurs) ou aux femmes ( infirmières). Naturellement il pensa que, sur le plan pratique, rien n’empêchait, bien au contraire, les un(e)s et les autres de s’orienter vers ces professions étrangères aux leurs. Ceci fut appelé le « paradoxe norvégien » car après avoir promu le gender, force était de reconnaître qu’en pratique, le pays continuait à s’orienter vers les métiers traditionnels des femmes et des hommes.

Pourquoi? Discrimination? Patriarcat?

« Elia’s method was simplicity itself. With his camera team he visited NIKK researchers (two, a man and a woman, are featured) and recorded their answers to his innocent, but pointed questions about the gender paradox. They made assertions about the identical nature of male and female brains, explaining women’s stereotypical career choices by social construction alone, but offering no proofs for this conclusion

Elia then took their taped statements, and played them back to prominent university-based researchers in England and the U.S. asking them to comment on the findings of their Norwegian peers.

These scholars—amused, bemused and incredulous in turn— especially because the findings were based on mere theory, never supported by any empirical research.

They responded with rebuttals that included evidence-based studies for biologically inherent difference. Elia then took those responses back to the NIKK people for comment.

Mr. Eia filmed those reactions, went back to Oslo, and showed them to the NIKK researchers.

Their discomfort is palpable. But they stonewall, dismissing the research of giants in the field out of hand (“weak studies”). One says it is the role of social science to “challenge” biological thinking. Elia is taken aback. Isn’t science science? Finally he asks, “How do you know there are no (biological differences between the sexes)?” The stunning answer from one: “My hypothesis is that there are none.” Equally damning from the other: “I have what you would call a theoretical basis.”» – extrait de «Barbara Kay: The experiment that turned popular gender theory on its head»

Suite à sa diffusion par l’équivalent norvégien de Radio-Canada, les Norvégiens se sentent floués et le Conseil nordique (qui réunit le Danemark, l’Islande, la Norvège et la Suède) coupe les fonds ( 56 millions d’Euro ) du NIKK (Nordic Gender Institute) parce que leurs  recherches n’avaient aucune base scientifique. L’Institut a fermé ses portes.