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The Power of "Why Not?"

Humans are filled with enigmas. Why do Latinx voters vote for Trump? Why do black voters vote for Trump?


Well, if you ever find yourself wondering about that, try asking this: Can we really reduce the lived experiences of a whole population to one behavior/action?


In everyday life, the temptation to label a group exists in pervasive yet subtle ways like that. To battle it, simply ask: why not?


Asking "why not" has long been the secret weapon of sociologists, including me. When you stop taking ANYTHING for granted, you will start to focus on individual experiences and differences. And if you wish, as we often do, you build new categories from these differences that are actually inclusive and meaningful.



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