> Can someone (likely younger than me) explain to me why the concept of gender-associated cognitive differences has become so controversial, and why the “blank slate hypothesis” is the only one considered acceptable?

I speculate that the "blank state hypothesis" has a media footprint that's disproportionate to the number of people who actually believe it in its strongest form.

Perhaps more media attention is given to people who argue for extreme nature-vs-nurture positions, rather than more moderate nature-and-nurture positions?