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Few years back I would not have thought that the definition of a Woman would be so difficult. Lately, high ranking government officials in US, UK and Australia seem to graze around the definition of WOMAN.
Below are some short clips of officials who have tried their best to define a Woman.
Definition of a Woman by Dr Brendan Murphy
Position: Secretary of the Department of Health of Australia
Date: 06 April 2022.Â
Dr Murphy was asked by Australian Senator Senator Alex Antic to define a woman.Â
After adjusting the chair and cracking a nervous laughter, Dr Murphy replied “I think there are a variety of definitions“.
At least, one cannot blame him for not trying….
Definition of a Woman by Anneliese Dodds
Position: Chair Of The British Labour PartyÂ
Date: 08 March 2022
Anneliese Dodds, appearing on BBC’s Woman’s Hour struggled to define a Woman when pressed by Host Emma Barnett.
Dodds attempted with “I think it does depend what the context is surely.”
Definition of a Woman by (then) Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Position: US Supreme Court Chief Justice
Event Date: 23 March 2022
Then Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, during her nomination for US Supreme Court Chief Justice was asked by Senator Marsha Blackburn to define a Woman.
Judge Jackson responded, “No. I can’t. Not in this context. No, I am not a BIOLOGIST“.
(So now, a person has to be a Biologist to define that?)
It is not only the struggle to define a Woman but there is also an effort to replace Mothers to Birthing People.
Birthing People by Cori Bush
Position: Congresswoman, US Representative
Date: 06 May 2021
Representative Cori Bush testified before the Democratic Oversight Committee about America’s Black maternal health crisis. She emphasised on the word “Black Birthing People” to drive home her point.
The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) came out in support on the usage of “Birthing people” as being more inclusive.
Birthing People by Xavier Becerra
Position: US Secretary of Health and Human Services
Date: 10 June 2021
US Senator Lankford questioned HHS Secretary Becerra about replacing Mothers by Birthing People in the President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget and
Lankford: You shifted from using the term ‘mother’ to ‘birthing people’ rather than mother. Can you help me get a good definition of ‘birthing people?
Becerra: But I think if we’re talking about those who give birth, I think we’re talking about . . . I don’t know how else to explain it to you other than [that]
This hearing came days after Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Shalanda Young doubled-down on Redefining Mothers as ‘Birthing People’ to be more inclusive and equitable in Biden’s budget proposal.
Why is it Important to Define a WOMAN?
“What is the big deal in NOT defining a woman?”, one would argue.
The International Women’s Day was celebrated globally on 8 March 2022 that recognised the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of WOMEN. If a Woman cannot be defined then for whom is the International Women’s Day about?
It is not regular citizens but Lawmakers, Government officials, bureaucrats etc. who are struggling to define Woman and Motherhood.
In the absence of a definition, how would one frame policies related to Woman issues? Are Women robbed of their social, economic, cultural, and political achievements?
If words matters, is this a step backward or forward in NOT defining Woman and replacing Motherhood with Birthing people?