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July 15, 2024 • 2hr 44min
#810 - Brett Cooper - The Quiet Revolution Against Modern Feminism
Modern Wisdom
Brett Cooper is a political commentator, actor, and YouTuber who hosts "The Comment Section" for The Daily Wire. At 23, she made the somewhat unconventional choice to get married young while pursuing a successful media career. In this wide-ranging conversation, Brett discusses her views on relationships, social media's impact on youth, her experiences in Hollywood, political polarization, maintaining a positive outlook, and more.
#810 - Brett Cooper - The Quiet Revolution Against Modern Feminism
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Key Takeaways
- Getting married young can be a positive choice, despite societal pressure to delay marriage and focus solely on career. Brett Cooper got married at 23 and views it as "the best thing I've ever done."
- The modern dating landscape is challenging for young people, with many lacking basic dating skills and relying too heavily on dating apps. There's a need for more in-person social interaction and developing social/dating skills.
- Both men and women need to be realistic about what they bring to the table in relationships and what they can reasonably expect in a partner. Setting unrealistic standards leads to disappointment.
- Social media and unrealistic beauty standards are negatively impacting young women's mental health and self-image. There's been a concerning rise in self-harm behaviors among teenage girls.
- Gen Z is experiencing high levels of cynicism and despondency, partly due to constant exposure to global problems via social media. Finding purpose and meaning is crucial.
- Working in Hollywood as a child actor exposed Brett to concerning behavior, highlighting the importance of having protective parents/guardians in the industry.
- Political polarization is often fueled by misperceptions about the other side's views. Most people actually hold more moderate positions than assumed.
- Maintaining a positive, solution-oriented mindset is key when covering difficult news/cultural topics. Brett focuses on personal responsibility and what individuals can control.
Introduction
Brett Cooper is a political commentator, actor, and YouTuber who hosts "The Comment Section" for The Daily Wire. At 23, she made the somewhat unconventional choice to get married young while pursuing a successful media career. In this wide-ranging conversation, Brett discusses her views on relationships, social media's impact on youth, her experiences in Hollywood, political polarization, maintaining a positive outlook, and more.
Topics Discussed
Getting Married Young (1:38)
Brett got married at 23 and describes it as "the best thing I've ever done." She acknowledges that marrying young while having a career is seen as radical by many, but she has always known she wanted to be a wife and mother. Brett explains:
"I knew that I had found the person that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. My parents did not have a good marriage, so this was... It wasn't something that I grew up idolizing or wanting. That wasn't an example that I wanted to be married because of my parents, because I had seen [their struggles]."
- Brett saw both good and bad examples of marriage growing up, which informed her desire for a strong partnership
- She believes getting married young has provided stability as her career has taken off rapidly
- Brett views her marriage as "the one thing that matters" amidst career success
The Modern Dating Landscape (7:53)
Brett characterizes the current state of dating advice and norms for young people as "terrible" and a "treacherous landscape." She highlights several issues:
- Lack of basic dating skills - Many young people were never taught how to date in person
- Over-reliance on dating apps - Apps have become the primary way many interact romantically
- Confusion around approaching/being approached - Mixed messages about what's appropriate
- Unrealistic standards fueled by social media
Brett advocates for more in-person social interaction to develop dating skills naturally. She also emphasizes the need for both men and women to be realistic about what they bring to relationships and what they can reasonably expect in a partner.
Social Media's Impact on Youth Mental Health (53:47)
The conversation touches on concerning mental health trends among young people, particularly teenage girls. Some key points:
- Since 2009, there's been over a 5x increase in 10-14 year old girls admitted to the ER for self-harm
- Social media exposure is likely a major factor in declining mental health
- Unrealistic beauty standards and constant comparison fuel insecurity
- The pandemic exacerbated many existing mental health issues
Brett notes that social media has "almost encouraged having a mental illness" by glorifying certain conditions. She advocates for more parental involvement in monitoring kids' social media use.
Brett's Experience as a Child Actor in Hollywood (56:06)
Brett worked as a child actor in Hollywood and shares some concerning experiences, while noting she was largely protected by her vigilant mother. Key points:
- Brett had some uncomfortable encounters with adults in the industry, including inappropriate comments from a writer
- Her mother was extremely protective and set clear boundaries
- Brett took self-defense classes from a young age to be prepared
- She saw other child actors and parents who were willing to compromise safety for career opportunities
Brett emphasizes the importance of having protective parents/guardians for child actors. She ultimately chose to leave acting partly due to the problematic aspects of the industry.
Gen Z Cynicism and Finding Purpose (44:09)
The conversation explores the high levels of cynicism and despondency among Gen Z. Brett offers her perspective on the causes and potential solutions:
- Constant exposure to global problems via social media contributes to a negative worldview
- Many young people lack a sense of purpose or guiding principles
- There's a need to recognize that overall quality of life has improved despite challenges
- Finding meaning through faith, family, and personal responsibility can combat cynicism
Brett advocates for young people to focus on what they can control and find purpose beyond fleeting social/political trends.
Political Polarization and Misperceptions (2:26:36)
The host shares insights from a study on political polarization, highlighting how misperceptions fuel division:
- Both sides tend to exaggerate the extremity of the other side's views
- This leads to disliking and avoiding those with different views
- Lack of interaction prevents correcting false assumptions
- Partisan media often amplifies the most extreme voices
Brett reflects on how this research aligns with her approach of trying to find common ground and present reasonable arguments to reach those with different views.
Maintaining a Positive Outlook When Covering Difficult Topics (2:37:56)
Brett explains how she remains upbeat despite covering many concerning cultural trends:
- Focusing on the fact that overall quality of life has improved throughout history
- Emphasizing personal responsibility and what individuals can control
- Finding purpose and hope in future plans like having children
- Using humor to process difficult topics
- Viewing challenges as opportunities for growth and positive change
She stresses the importance of taking action rather than just complaining: "I'd rather, like, always live in that space. I'm constantly going, what can I do to make this situation better? I'm unhappy. What do I need to fix? What do I need to do? Again? So empowering."
Conclusion
This wide-ranging conversation touched on many of the key challenges facing young people today, from navigating relationships to maintaining mental health in the social media age. Brett Cooper offers a perspective that emphasizes personal responsibility, finding purpose, and maintaining hope despite cultural headwinds. Her journey from child actor to political commentator provides unique insights into both Hollywood and new media. While acknowledging serious issues, Brett advocates for focusing on what individuals can control and taking action to create positive change.