America is becoming less "woke"
An Economist piece arguing that “America is becoming less woke” prompts debate over what “woke” and DEI actually mean and whether their influence is genuinely receding or simply becoming normalized. Commenters split between seeing wokeness as empathy and overdue social awareness versus a shallow, polarizing marketing and political tool used by both left and right, with corporate DEI jobs and rhetoric cited as imperfect proxies for broader cultural trends. Many voice fatigue with culture wars in general, arguing they distract from material issues like inequality, housing, and governance.
Definitions and Uses of “Woke”
- Thread disagrees on what “woke” means and whether it’s useful.
- Some frame it as basic empathy and awareness of structural oppression.
- Others see it as a vague insult now used to mean “anything I dislike,” especially by the right, or as shorthand for “identity politics.”
- Several complain that such umbrella terms (woke, DEI, SJW, “defund the police”) erase nuance and create fake battle lines.
- A few argue “woke” (and its predecessors) are just the latest label for a long‑running political subculture that continually rebrands.
Corporate DEI, ESG, and Representation
- Multiple comments note a visible decline in DEI job listings; proposed explanations:
- Economic downturn and general hiring slowdown.
- Market saturation once large firms staffed those roles.
- Investor backlash and partisan attacks on DEI.
- Perception that standalone DEI roles add little value.
- Others counter that DEI work can be substantial (events, mentoring, policy work) and often ties to legal/compliance risk reduction.
- ESG reporting is seen as still strong, but some want to keep it from drifting into the same culture‑war zone.
- Queer representation in ads splits opinion:
- Some LGBTQ commenters feel targeted and commodified; call it pure virtue signaling.
- Others welcome mainstream visibility as better than erasure, while still disliking hollow “rainbow-washing.”
Virtue Signaling, Outrage, and Echo Chambers
- Many see “wokeness” (and its right‑wing mirror) as performative: corporations, politicians, and influencers stoke outrage to gain attention or profit.
- Both left and right are accused of using inflammatory language, grandstanding, and refusing genuine policy engagement.
- Some claim people are getting better at spotting “performative outrage,” but still easily manipulated by it.
Culture War Fatigue and Institutions
- Several say people are tired of culture‑war topics, which crowd out discussion of policy, inequality, and governance.
- Schools, churches, and other institutions saw realignment during/after COVID (e.g., people leaving stricter or more “woke” spaces), but broader secularization trends are also noted.
- Some argue culture‑war fights distract from wealth inequality; others focus on hypocrisy in affluent “progressive” cities with extreme rich‑poor gaps.
Article and Data Critiques
- Some call the article “nonsensical” or “irrelevant,” arguing it tracks weak proxies and overinterprets a post‑peak dip that’s still above 2019 levels.
- Others say measuring proxy signals is imperfect but reasonable, and dismissing such analysis outright contributes to today’s polarization.
- Several complain that coverage of “woke” is more about engagement and clicks than insight.