Political ideology drives literary censorship, study finds
Political ideology now drives literary censorship, with both liberals and conservatives opposing books that offend their values.
Why it matters
- Political ideology now drives literary censorship more than concerns about sex and violence.
- Both liberals and conservatives support censorship of books that oppose their values.
- This shift reflects broader cultural polarization.
By the numbers
- Over 800 participants in each of two studies.
- 1,269 demands to censor library books in 2022.
- Record surge in censorship challenges in 2023.
The big picture
- Censorship is increasingly driven by political ideology rather than traditional concerns about sex and violence.
- Both sides engage in censorship, threatening free speech as a core value.
- Legislative action by the right and social media by the left are key methods.
What they're saying
- Commenters debate equivalence between left and right censorship.
- Some argue that targeting racism, sexism, and homophobia is addressing violence, not censorship.
- Others highlight the impact of legislative vs. social media actions.
Caveats
- Study relies on self-reported attitudes and hypothetical scenarios.
- Representative sample may not capture all public opinion nuances.
What’s next
- Further research on real-world impacts of these attitudes.
- Exploring long-term effects on free speech and societal values.