Statement Regarding Jordan Peterson Speaking at Centre in the Square

While some people in our Region welcome Jordan Peterson to the publicly funded Centre in the Square, we stand in solidarity/echo others in saying that hate is not welcome here.  

Jordan Peterson openly espouses sexist, racist, and transphobic ideology. He encourages violence against women, stating women have “an unconscious wish for brutal male domination.” We believe these viewpoints should not be given a publicly funded platform in our community. 

Peterson’s perspectives also negatively impact men. As Liz Plank states in her book, For the Love of Men, “instead of persuading men to have compassion for themselves and others, he is instructing them to lean into rugged individualism, fear, and rigidity. Instead of embracing vulnerability, he instructs men to run away from it.” In short, Peterson advocates for adherence to extremely rigid definitions of gender and masculinity - he wants men to stay in the ‘Man Box.’ 

Research shows that men that are the most likely to perpetrate sexual violence are those who have the most rigid notions of gender. Through our Male Allies Program, SASC is actively working against the harm caused by such viewpoints, and we invite everyone in the community to challenge his toxic perspectives.  

Here are some suggestions of what you can do to support the community: 

1. Support organizations that are who are working in our community to dismantle the toxic ideas that Peterson perpetuates such as Spectrum, SWAN, SHORE Centre, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Healing of the Seven Generations, Coalition of Muslim Women of KW, Land Back Camp, Black Lives Matter Waterloo Region, and of course, SASC!  

2. Encourage men in your life to be part of the conversation in counteracting his viewpoints, which could include participating in our Male Allies workshops. 

3. Voice your concern to elected officials about publicly-funded venues hosting problematic speakers.  

4. Use your platforms to share this message. Stand with us in solidarity against hate.