Social Science Organizations: We Resign

By Nicholas Stix


In a dramatic development, the heads of the American Sociological Association, American Psychological Association,
American Political Science Association, American Economic Association, American Anthropological Association and Linguistic Society of America all resigned their academic posts and disbanded their organizations, and all of the organizations’ members resigned their faculty positions at thousands of American institutions of higher education.

In a joint communiqué, signed by Gerald P. Koocher, the president of the American Psychological Association; Frances Fox Piven, the president of the American Sociological Association; Ira Katznelson, the president of the American Political Science Association; Alan Goodman, the president of the American Anthropological Association; George A. Akerlof, the president of the American Economic Association; and Sally McConnell-Ginet, the president of the Linguistic Society of America, the organization presidents wrote,

“For many years, critics within the social sciences and among the general public have criticized the use of ‘stereotypes,’ emphasizing that people ‘are all individuals and their beliefs and motivations are quite complex.’ Reflecting on the power of such critiques, we concluded that since social science cannot proceed without stereotypes (aka 'generalizations,' aka 'ideal types,' aka 'types'), we cannot in good conscience continue in our jobs and organizations. To do so would be to perpetrate scientific fraud and unconscionably immoral stereotyping on the American and world public, and in particular, on students and the American taxpayer who must pay or subsidize exorbitant tuition and fees. We apologize for every dollar we have been paid, and will seek in every way possible to repay our debt to society.”

Technorati Tags:

American Sociological Association, American Psychological Association, American Political Science Association, American Anthropological Association, American Economic Association, Linguistic Society of America, Frances Fox Piven, Gerald P. Koocher, Ira Katznelson, Alan Goodman, George A. Akerlof, Sally McConnell-Ginet, and Satire.