Cultural Clash

We live in a strange cultural moment: books have never been more accessible, yet reading has never been more neglected. National surveys show a steep, decades-long decline in reading for pleasure, with some reports estimating a nearly 40 percent drop in daily leisure reading over the past twenty years. Another study from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences found that the percentage of adults who read at least one book outside of work each year has fallen steadily as well. These numbers confirm what many already feel in their own lives: people who once devoured novels now struggle to finish a chapter, and countless purchased books remain untouched. The question isn’t whether reading has declined—but why.

Look no further than University of Oklahoma for the newest culture war plaguing social media. Last week, the Turning Point …

Why, how, what? Straight women in happy, loving relationships tiptoe through life, especially in urban areas, as if every straight couple walking around SOHO holding hands is personally responsible for the housing crisis and grocery store prices. It’s now safer to hide your partner than celebrate them, better to be miserable than fulfilled in a loving relationship.

It’s challenging to navigate because it’s easy to be a conservative activist, and it’s easy to be a liberal activist—but finding a nuanced middle ground is hard. I’m learning what it means to stay true to my values while having productive political conversations.