188 - Why Do People Double Down in the Face of Contrary Evidence?

Gender: A Wider Lens

This conversation connects cognitive dissonance surrounding gender identity to cultural and institutional dynamics, including developments in gender medicine and resistance to emerging evidence that challenges prevailing medical practices — illustrating how deeply held beliefs become difficult to abandon even in the face of contradictory evidence.

The core idea is that just because something cannot be proven false doesn’t mean we should accept it as true. Stella and Sasha imply that trying to "research a way out" of this issue isn't the answer, as many are emotionally invested in their decisions regarding medicalization, especially parents of trans-identified children.

This episode underscores the value of self-forgiveness and cognitive flexibility, emphasizing the importance of remaining open to re-evaluating one's path and advocating that winning "hearts and minds" is key to changing perspectives rather than relying solely on evidence. While systemic changes and broader public awareness could help shift the conversation, ultimately, the cultural "war" over gender identity will not be resolved easily or quickly, with some people doubling down on their decisions for life.

For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-188

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe