E31 - Betty Pope and Ayn Rand's Feminism

A Socialist Reads Atlas Shrugged

I thought that I could cover both the gender discussion and nationalization in about 45 minutes, but that did not happen. So, this week, we get into gender with the scene between James Taggart and Betty Pope. The next episode (#32) will discuss nationalization.
Jonathan's understanding of contemporary gender theory and research is grounded in the text Gender: Ideas, Interactions, Institutions by Lisa Wade and Myra Marx Ferree.
In the discussion about gender and politics, Jonathan mentions Margaret Thatcher and Julia Gillard (see her famous speech). A fictional figure, Claire Underwood, demonstrates some of the "self-immolation" that Jonathan thinks Ayn Rand had in mind when she wrote her essay (in this book) about not wanting a woman to be president.
My five themes to explore in this podcast's close read of Atlas Shrugged are:

1. What is human nature?
2. Straw-man arguments and their impact on the world Ayn Rand creates.
3. Dagny Taggart as a true hero.
4. How empathy can be de-legitimized.
5. What is Capitalism and what is wrong with it?

Questions or comments? Email me at: [e-mail]
Learn more about Jonathan Seyfried at their website, https://jonathanseyfried.art
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The intro/outro music was composed by John Sib.
The podcast theme image was created by Karina Bial

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