Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - LSE academic's claim 'black women less attractive' triggers race row

I shared this with my lovely daughter and we had a good Skype laugh over it. But perhaps Kanazawa ought to be more concerned about the fact that declining birth rates in Japan tend to suggest that Japanese men don't find Japanese women as attractive as they need to. Or vice versa. He might do better to direct his research in that direction, where something really does need to be done.

Ayo

On 20 May 2011, at 23:29, "Anunoby, Ogugua" <AnunobyO@lincolnu.edu> wrote:

> Kanazawa is clearly ignorant.
> Human (physical) attractiveness, like beauty and sexy, is in the eye of the beholder. Kanazawa's claim is one more example of useless research that consumes scarce resources. One would expect a research university employed evolutionary psychologist to know that human attractiveness is cultural more than anything else. Opinion on human attractiveness differs within a culture by sub-culture. Attractiveness is not an attribute that is defined by global imperatives or standards. Attractiveness (including its quality) is also transcient and not entirely physical. It is a matter of pride and respect for all races. It may also depend on confidence, dignity, grace, personl carriage, and poise. Is sexy attractive? Yes and no.
> A prejudiced person is not likely to find a member of the race that they are prejudiced against attractive .Is that to say that the said person is not attractive? No of course. Prejudice is consumptive. It is blinding and destructive of thought and reason. Prejudiced people are consequently almost always irrational.
> Many evolutionary psychologist think of themselves as scientists. It is doubtful that Kanazawa should think of himself as a scientist. Kanazawa's U.K employers must ask themselves whether his scholarship is worth the embarrasment and falsehood that he tries hard to peddle. It should not matter any more that his employment attracts funds from Japan.
>
> oa
>
> ________________________________________
> From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Hetty ter Haar [oldavenue@googlemail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 4:32 PM
> To: USA Africa Dialogue Series
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - LSE academic's claim 'black women less attractive' triggers race row
>
> LSE academic's claim 'black women less attractive' triggers race row
>
> Social scientist made remarks on his blog claiming he had analysed
> data from an online study of physical attractiveness
> Ian Sample, science correspondent
>
> guardian.co.uk, Thursday 19 May 2011 19.30 BST
>
>
> LSE has launched an internal investigation into Dr Satoshi Kanazawa's
> claims that black women were less attractive than women of other
> races.
>
> Student groups at the London School of Economics are calling for the
> dismissal of a social scientist who has become embroiled in a racism
> row after claiming that a study showed black women to be less
> attractive than women of other races.
>
> Dr Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist at the institution,
> published his comments on a blog and claimed he had analysed data from
> an online study of physical attractiveness.
>
> In his article for Psychology Today, Kanazawa wrote: "Black women are
> … far less attractive than white, Asian, and Native American women."
> The piece drew a barrage of complaints from readers and has since been
> removed from the site.
>
> The row has prompted the University of London Union Senate, the
> union's legislative body, which represents more than 120,000 students,
> to vote unanimously for the dismissal of Kanazawa, and to condemn his
> research.
>
> Sherelle Davids, anti-racism officer-elect of the LSE students' union,
> said: "Kanazawa deliberately manipulates findings that justify racist
> ideology. As a black woman I feel his conclusions are a direct attack
> on black women everywhere who are not included in social ideas of
> beauty."
>
> Amena Amer, incoming LSE students' union education officer, added: "We
> support free speech and academic freedom, but Kanazawa's research
> fuels hate against ethnic and religious minorities promoted by neo-
> Nazi groups. Not only does he use the LSE's credentials to legitimise
> his 'research' but this jeopardises the academic credibility of the
> LSE."
>
> The LSE launched an internal investigation into Kanazawa's comments
> after senior academics at the school, including the new director,
> Judith Rees, received letters of complaint over the remarks. Dr
> Kanazawa is abroad on sabbatical this year.
>
> The incident is the latest embarrassment for the LSE, following the
> resignation of previous director Sir Howard Davies, in March after
> admitting that the institution's reputation had been damaged by the
> acceptance of a £1.5m donation from a foundation controlled by Muammar
> Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam.
>
> The investigation will look at the data Kanazawa analysed and the
> quality of his work, before deciding what punitive action, if any, it
> can take.
>
> In a statement, the LSE sought to distance itself from the
> researcher's comments, but acknowledged freedom of academic
> expression.
>
> "The views expressed by this academic are his own and do not in any
> way represent those of the LSE as an institution. The important
> principle of academic freedom means that authors have the right to
> publish their views – but it also means the freedom to disagree. We
> are conducting internal investigations into this matter," the
> statement said.
>
> Kanazawa has been criticised in the past for substandard research in
> the area of race and intelligence.
>
> guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2011
>
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