"The Coddling of the American Mind" Analysis

Society is a lot different than it used to be. Among many aspects, schools in particular, have changed immensely. Back in the day, parents gave their children independence and allowed them to grow on their own through relationships with other people. Sure, kids may have been bullied. Heck most kids were, but that helped them develop and persevere through those tough times. They overcame the obstacles that faced them and it shaped who they are. Unfortunately, many parents were against this process and were much more protective over their kids. Many people assume that bullying is negative and can only worsen someone’s childhood. (24) In fact, bullying is associated with a negative connotation.  As a result, parents took action with school administrators to protect their kids for them while they were at school. Over time, it developed into bully-free environments.  No longer can students discriminate or bully people in the slightest. People thought that the problem was solved, but in reality there was no problem at all.

In the article "Coddling of the American Mind", by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathon Haidt, they discuss these issues and the environment created by "protecting" college students from emotional discomfort. Lukianoff and Haidt themselves write, "After the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado, many schools cracked down on bullying, implementing “zero tolerance” policies. In a variety of ways, children born after 1980—the Millennials—got a consistent message from adults: life is dangerous, but adults will do everything in their power to protect you from harm, not just from strangers but from one another as well.”(46) In a sense, schools and parents are trying to protect students from emotional distress. In other words, anything that is slightly “offensive” in terms of any demographic, is forbidden in schools. While this may keep students happy, is this the best thing for students. They claim that students in today’s society are more sensitive to jokes and microaggressions. According to Lukianoff and Haidt, “microaggressions are small actions or word choices that seem on their face to have no malicious intent but that are thought of as a kind of violence nonetheless.”(46) Most microaggressions have to do with race or nationality. In an example used in the article, if you ask someone of a different race where they were born, that could come off as offensive because you are implying that they aren’t American and an “outcast”. As a result, schools are eliminating this behavior amongst students. According to Lukianoff and Haidt,  “By imposing these restrictions, it can be potentially disastrous for students and their mental health.” I agree with this statement, as school administrators are over reacting. Why are schools trying to blend everyone to be the same. People should embrace who they are and where they are from. Different personalities and cultures is what makes our nation so diverse. Too many people are pessimistic and think of the worst possible outcome.  The essence of Lukianoff and Haidt’s argument is that, “Attempts to shield students from words, ideas, and people that might cause them emotional discomfort are bad for the students. They are bad for the workplace, which will be mired in unending litigation if student expectations of safety are carried forward.” (46)

In the end, parents need to give children some space and allow them to interact with other people. Whether this interaction is positive or negative it will nonetheless be productive. Children who encounter tough times as kids are better prepared for college and the workplace in their futures. Lukianoff and Haidt’s theory of the emotional well-being of students is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of bullying and microaggressions. (62) In other words, this article shows that microaggressions are over emphasized and in a sense people are looking for an excuse to make things negative.

 Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. They Say / I Say. 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015. Print.

 Lukianoff, Greg, and Jonathan Haidt. "The Coddling of the American Mind." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, Sept. 2015. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.