I wrote this text on October 6, 2018, when the U.S. was waiting for the results of the hearings about Brett Kavanaugh's nomination for the Supreme Court.
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Last week, a student asked me whether I thought Kavanaugh would be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. I turned the question to the class. Some said yes, another said no way. I then told them what I thought. I drew parallels between his hearings and those of Clarence Thomas, both of which centered around accusations of sexual harassment. Based on the treatment Professors Hill and Ford both got during the two hearings, and given the result of the last presidential election, I expected Kavanaugh to be confirmed. I told my students I was applying my analytical skills as a sociologist.
About an hour ago, we learned that the Senate confirmed Kavanaugh.
So there you have it. Knowledge is power and ignorance is bliss.