Helen Pluckrose

Counterweight Handbook

Diversity, equity and inclusion programmes have the admirable goal of creating a welcoming environment for everyone. Increasingly, however, people are realising that the way they are commonly practised isn’t simply an extension of past civil rights movements. Instead, they’re often intertwined with Critical Social Justice ideology, which imposes its principles and punishes any disagreement. Mild questions about Critical Social Justice claims – like all white people being racists or all minorities being oppressed, or sex differences having no biological basis – are met with curt commands by DEI trainers and HR officers: ‘Educate yourself,’ ‘Do the work,’ ‘Listen and learn.’ Advancements at work and school often depend on agreeing with these beliefs. Critical Social Justice ideology poses a real threat to rights and democracy, yet speaking out risks social backlash. When choosing between compliance and ethical opposition, what’s the right path? Based on the author’s years of experience studying, exposing and fighting Critical Social Justice ideology and advising people and organisations struggling with it, The Counterweight Handbook is designed to help people address Critical Social Justice problems in the most ethical and effective way possible.