Deck 3: Racial Preferences in Dating

Question 1

Imagine a case where a Black woman swipes left on the profiles of all white men. What would Abbate say about this way of using a dating app? Be sure to draw from Abbate's essay when defending your argument.

Answer 1

-Craft and defend a thesis that applies Abbate's moral arguments to the case of Black people refusing to date white people.
-Successfully apply the relevant portions of Abbate's argument, perhaps especially drawing from her explanations of discrimination, The Equal Inherent Value and Worth Principle, and the history of interracial relationships.

Question 2

Abbate says that some instances of discrimination are more wrong than others. Do you agree that it's wrong, even if only a little, to refuse to date people who are unattractive-as she suggests? Why or why not? When defending your position, consider including examples of other preferences that Abbate doesn't consider, such as a refusal to date unintelligent people or wealthy people. What does Abbate's position commit us to when it comes to the ethics of considering romantic partners?

Answer 2

-Craft and defend a thesis that responds to the claim, "It's wrong to refuse to date unattractive people."
-Likely include an example of discriminating based on other preferences that Abbate doesn't explore in her essay, such as the preference not to date unintelligent or wealthy people.
-Explore what kinds of commitments Abbate's position leads to when it comes to the ethics of dating in general.

Question 3

Toward the close of her essay, Abbate says that people may have a right to act viciously or immorally. In your essay, explain what it means to have a right to do the wrong thing. Then, consider how we might encourage virtuous and moral action even in cases where people have the right to act poorly. What kinds of steps can we take to discourage bad actions that people have the right to perform?

Answer 3

 Explain Abbate's claim that people may have a right to behave immorally, ideally by providing at least one original example.
 Explore how some person or group might encourage moral action on an issue where others have the right-perhaps a legal right-to behave immorally.

Question 4

Abbate argues that if refusing to date people of a certain race is wrong, it cannot be explained by ________:

A) Appealing to the inherent equality of persons
B) The fact that interracial marriage used to be illegal
C) Appealing to the principle of respect
D) The fact that there are so few interracial relationships
E) Appealing to negative consequences

Question 5

What explains the wrongness of racialized dating preferences?

A) The felt harm of those who are discriminated against
B) These preferences deny the equal worth of persons
C) These preferences always foster implicit biases
D) The experience of superiority by those who discriminate
E) All of the above

Question 6

When is drawing a distinction between people wrongful?

A) When it is a distinction that demeans
B) When it raises any one group's status
C) When it is a distinction based on value systems
D) Drawing distinctions between people is always wrongful
E) Drawing distinctions between people is never wrongful

Question 7

Abbate draws the distinction between what two things in the context of dating?

A) Desires and demands
B) Desires and standards
C) Preferences and standards
D) Preferences and deal breakers
E) Moral online dating and moral in-person dating

Question 8

Abbate argues that it would be demeaning for a person to refuse to swipe yes on anyone who likes football.

Question 9

Abbate argues that it is possible to both rule out all potential partners who enjoy hunting and to ________:

A) Not recognize that you're doing the wrong thing
B) Dehumanize them in the process
C) Defend animals' rights in so doing
D) Recognize their personhood
E) Believe that hunting is great

Question 10

Which of the following does constitute wrongful discrimination, on Abbate's view?

A) Ruling out all unattractive people
B) Ruling out all vegans
C) Ruling out all military personnel
D) Ruling out all football players
E) Refusing to date anyone at all

Question 11

Abbate argues that when it comes to weighing the wrongness of refusing to date Black people and refusing to date blond people, we should say what?

A) Both are morally acceptable
B) Both are morally neutral, but neither is a great idea
C) Both are equally wrong
D) Both are wrong, but refusing to date blond people is worse
E) Both are wrong, but refusing to date Black people is worse

Question 12

Abbate suggests that we need to pay particular attention to the history of what when evaluating the practice of drawing race-based distinctions in the dating context?

A) Slavery in the United States
B) Interracial relationships in the United States
C) Medical problems caused by inbreeding
D) Economic inequalities across racial lines
E) All of the above

Question 13

Abbate argues that drawing distinctions based on Blackness often expresses that Black people are inferior to whites even when the speaker didn't intend for his distinction to carry this meaning.