Part 3/8:
The shift Shermer witnessed in Scientific American reflects broader cultural trends that have infiltrated various scientific fields since around 2015. He notes that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and concepts like “safety” have become pervasive, leading to a stifling atmosphere where professional discourse is increasingly dictated by ideological conformity. Shermer poses that one of the consequences is that many scientists, fearing backlash and harassment, remain silent about their true beliefs on controversial topics, such as gender identity and biological sex.