By Guy Page
Last week, Supreme Court Justice nominee Kentanji Brown-Jackson took heat from some Republican senators for not being able to answer the question: “What is a woman?”
When asked March 3 by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, “Can you provide a definition for the word ‘woman’?”, Jackson answered: “I can’t. I’m not a biologist.”
Gov. Phil Scott oversees a large government apparatus with many programs benefiting the needs and interests of women. Vermont Daily Chronicle thought it might be worthwhile to ask the governor the same question at his press conference yesterday. See YouTube video at 40:28.
Governor, you’re the chief executive of an enterprise that includes the Vermont Commission on Women and other groups established to benefit women. How would you answer the question, “What is a woman?”
Here is his complete response, lightly edited for ums and ahs:
“I, yeah, I haven’t contemplated an answer to that. Are you getting, are you saying that during these times, that not everyone wants to designate as a male or female, is that what you’re referring to?”
VDC: “Well, I guess that’s kind of what I’m getting at. I know that our Supreme Court justice nominee was asked that and couldn’t answer, and there does seem to be some confusion over or at least perhaps unwillingness to define what exactly a woman is.”
“Well I think anyone who’s on the Vermont Commission on Women, I just assume that they refer to them as she or her, so I think we’re okay there. But maybe that needs some consideration in the future. I just don’t know. I haven’t contemplated that. But I haven’t heard any outcry from the Commission or commissioner of that entity. So until such time, I guess i’m not going to be too concerned about that.”