Former 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard tore into Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Thursday for the judge’s assertion that she could not define what a “woman” is because she is not a biologist.
“In order to have a Supreme Court committed to protecting the rights of all Americans, including women, every justice needs to understand there is such a thing as a woman, as distinct from a man,” Gabbard said. “Yet when asked to define the word ‘woman,’ Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson said, ‘I don’t know.'”
“The hypocrisy and absurdity of this is that she was nominated by President Biden in large part because she is a woman,” Gabbard added.
(1/2) In order to have a Supreme Court committed to protecting the rights of all Americans, including women, every justice needs to understand there is such a thing as a woman, as distinct from a man. Yet when asked to define the word “woman,” Supreme Court nominee …
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) March 24, 2022
Jackson would not offer a definition for woman pressed Tuesday by Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the only female Republican to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, to define what is a woman.
“Can you provide a definition for the word ‘woman’?” Blackburn asked.
“Can I provide a definition?” Jackson repeated.
“Yeah,” Blackburn said, to which Jackson replied, “I can’t.”
“You can’t?” Blackburn asked.
“Not — in this context, I’m not a biologist,” Jackson laughed.
“So you believe the meaning of the word ‘woman’ is so unclear and controversial that you can’t give me a definition?” Blackburn asked.
“Senator, in my work as a judge, what I do is I address disputes,” Jackson answered. “If there is a dispute about a definition, people make arguments and I look at the law and I decide, so — I’m not —”
Blackburn interrupted the judge to reply that “the fact that you can’t give me a straight answer about something as fundamental as what a woman is underscores the dangers of the kind of progressive education that we are hearing about.”
The Tennessee senator pointed to controversy surrounding the NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia, last weekend.
Biologically male swimmer Lia Thomas competed against female swimmers, winning first place in the 500-yard freestyle, tying for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle, and placing eighth in the 100-yard freestyle.
“Just last week an entire generation of young girls watched as our taxpayer-funded institutions permitted a biological man to compete and beat a biological woman in the NCAA swimming championships,” Blackburn said to Jackson, asking, “What message do you think this sends to girls who aspire to compete and win in sports at the highest levels?”
“Senator, I’m not sure what message that sends,” Jackson said.
Thomas has drawn nationwide backlash for swimming and competing on a women’s team after racing with men for three years.
“It means the world to be here … I try to ignore it as much as I can,” Thomas told ESPN after winning the 500 freestyle. “I try to focus on my swimming, what I need to do to get ready for my races. And just try to block out everything else.”
At least two female swimmers who have competed against the transgender athlete have come forward voicing their concerns that the NCAA let a biological male compete against them and win titles belonging to biological females.
“Who are we trying to protect here,” questioned Riley Gaines, a senior at the University of Kentucky who spoke with The Daily Wire, “and who are we trying to fight for here?”
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh is also seeking to understand the definition of “woman” from progressives. On Thursday, The Daily Wire and Walsh released the trailer for his upcoming documentary titled “What Is a Woman?” The documentary will showcase Walsh’s quest to “debunk radical gender identity theory and takes aim at the Left’s assault on truth,” The Daily Wire reported.