Make America Manly Again, Ladies: Forget Careers, Just Make Babies!

Last weekend (June 9-11, 2023) in god-forsaken Texas, conservative influencers hosted an event that aimed to shape the minds of young conservative women, urging them to forget about fulfilling their dreams, intentionally limit their lifetime earnings, and essentially cater to the fragile egos of conservative men. This annual indoctrination sleepover, ironically dubbed the Young Women’s Leadership Summit (YWLS), brought together regressive voices whose rhetoric took center stage, albeit with little substance to back it up.

So, what fueled this spectacle of outdated ideologies and attempts to undermine women’s progress? This year, the YWLS had a clear agenda: to shame high school- and college-aged women for their unladylike goals and revive the bygone image of an obsequious, barefoot-and-pregnant housewife—an image synonymous with dependency and transactional relationships.

“Wives, submit to your own husbands…,” says Ephesians 5:22-24. Yeah, no. In fact, “Hell to the No” is the definitive rebuttal to the idea that women are the lesser vessel, as once parroted by aspiring comedienne and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, another fact-free speaker at the aforementioned event. Scheduled presenters, aka groomers (yes, I went there), were swift to place the blame on the feminist movement for societal changes they considered unfavorable. But seriously, must they trot out the tired femi-nazi trope? Yeah, it’s not the first time someone demonized the concept of female independence. And it won’t be the last.

According to reports by Media Matters, Daily Kos, Jezebel, Boing Boing, and other media outlets, the YWLS presenters—adept at regurgitating GOP talking points—covertly and overtly discouraged attendees from pursuing high-powered careers. Yawn! This backward narrative consistently overlooks the complexities of social progress and the realities of modern-day economics.

Regressive pundits often call for women to prioritize procreation and spousal servitude over their careers. Unfortunately, they fail to acknowledge the economic realities faced by many couples—a situation deliberately shaped by the policies of the very GOP policymakers these pundits worship. Let’s be real: many people who desire to have children must relegate their desire to the backburner due to the pressing need to avoid extreme poverty. Dual-income households, or worse, multiple jobs and side hustles, have become necessary to make ends meet. However, if you want to have kids and can have kids, let it be your decision. If you want to delay parenthood or remain child free, that’s your choice, too. Never let your reproductive or career choices be manipulated by an entitled GOP darling with a natalist agenda, for crying out loud!

The real irony lies in the fact that influential women speakers at the summit discouraged attendees from pursuing professional lives while reaping the benefits of their own successful career choices. Take Fox host Laura Ingraham, for instance, who echoed the sentiment that women were coerced into the workforce, conveniently overlooking her own children and her annual salary at Fox News, reportedly reaching $15 million. But hey, who needs such a comfortable, empowering life, right?

Joining Ingraham at the summit was a roster of other prominent sell-outs, including Candace Owens, American conservative author and political commentator. “Every ill that we’re fighting right now in society has been brought forth by women,” declared Owens, an audacious statement reminiscent of blaming the biblical Eve herself. Owens also warned female attendees that they could never be fully complete without a child. Again, Owens herself enjoys both a family and a high-powered career, speaking from a position where three square meals a day and a roof over one’s head are not a constant worry. But the rest of us women shouldn’t pursue such a multi-faceted existence, right? Seriously, WTF!?

By the way, the event also featured a few token males, like Charlie Kirk, American conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the event organizer. No right-wing roster is complete without some misogynist mansplaining how women should live their lives, apparently. Kirk enjoyed waxing philosophical about how the “radical left” is mostly being “run by childless young ladies” on antidepressants. He also begged female attendees to “please become a wife and start a family.” A sketchy plea from someone who benefits greatly by maintaining the status quo, where men comprise a staggering 85% of the 400 wealthiest individuals, as reported by the Forbes 400 list.

But enough of this ridiculousness. Instead of trying to sideline women who want to improve their lot, why can’t these naysayers applaud them? Thankfully, who needs their approval anyway? Women, many of them mothers, have consistently exhibited their brilliance, talents, and skills, contributing significantly to societal progress across various professional fields. Women continue to break free from imposed limitations and strive for equality, representation, and recognition. They have done so time and time again throughout history.

Events like the YWLS, with their misleading titles, will persist in promoting regressive rhetoric that resists female achievement, diversity, and inclusion. Right-wing elitists will continue to cling to their delusion of “back in the good old days,” guarding their outdated and oppressive mindsets. By contrast, progressive leaders and modern democracy will continue to reject narrow-mindedness, challenge traditional roles, and foster inclusivity. By shining a light on events like the YWLS and the disingenuous agendas they represent, we can pave the way for a thriving future that benefits everyone.