Jennifer Sey Highlights 'Politeness' as Coercive Tool to Suppress Truth

Jennifer Sey, former Levi Strauss & Co. executive and founder of XX-XY Athletics, recently took to social media to articulate a critical perspective on societal expectations of politeness. In a tweet, Sey stated, "Who says being polite and nice are always the most important values to uphold? In my experience, people telling me to 'just be nice' have been controlling and manipulative and their 'shh be nice' has been a coercive attempt to pressure me into not exposing their abuse and cruelty." She further added, "That’s what women mean when we say our empathy is often weaponized against us."

Sey’s statement draws from a history of public advocacy and corporate challenges. As a former U.S. National Gymnastics Champion, she authored "Chalked Up," exposing abusive coaching practices within the sport. This early experience set a precedent for her willingness to speak out against perceived injustices, even when it meant confronting established norms or powerful entities.

Her departure from Levi Strauss & Co. in 2022 further underscored her commitment to free expression. Sey resigned from her role as Global Brand President after publicly opposing COVID-19 school closures and mask mandates, citing pressure from the company over her outspoken views. She declined a substantial severance package to maintain her freedom to speak on these issues, later chronicling her experience in the memoir "Levi's Unbuttoned: The Woke Mob Took My Job but Gave Me My Voice."

Currently, Sey leads XX-XY Athletics, a sportswear brand launched in March 2024, which advocates for the protection of women's sports categories. The brand's mission, which includes a stance against the inclusion of transgender women in female sports, has positioned Sey at the center of ongoing cultural debates and drawn both support and criticism. This platform continues her pattern of challenging prevailing narratives and resisting pressures to conform to specific viewpoints.

Sey's recent tweet reflects a consistent theme in her public life: the perceived weaponization of social expectations, such as politeness and empathy, to silence dissent or prevent the exposure of uncomfortable truths. Her experiences, from gymnastics to corporate leadership and now in her advocacy for women's sports, provide the backdrop for her assertion that such pressures can be manipulative tools rather than genuine virtues.