Episode 12: Book Club: Weapons of Math Destruction

In Episode 12 of the Coloring Outside the Memos podcast, Dr. Tiffany Monique Quash and Dr. Lizzy Bartelt discuss their first book club selection: Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil. The book explores how big data and mathematical algorithms can reinforce inequality and harm democracy. Throughout the episode, Dr. Quash and Dr. Bartelt break down key themes from the book, including how biased algorithms affect education, employment, criminal justice, and other areas of society.

The hosts explain how these algorithms, often presented as objective, are flawed and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. They also discuss how the rise of big data contributes to systemic issues such as the criminalization of poverty, inequities in the education system, and biases in hiring practices. O'Neil's conclusion is that these "weapons of math destruction" are exacerbating societal divides while remaining opaque and unchallenged.