March is recognized as Women’s History Month. In recent years, society has witnessed an evolving conversation about gender identity that seeks to redefine many of our long-held understandings of biology. Feminist went from fighting and supporting women’s rights and equality, to making a mockery of what they used to fight so hard for. While inclusivity, acceptance and respect for all people, regardless of gender identity, are crucial to a compassionate society, we must not lose sight of the unique and irreplaceable contributions that biological women make to the world. As the ideology emerges that men, by declaring themselves women, can enter spaces traditionally reserved for women, from sports to health care to public policy, we must pause and reflect on what is at stake.
The essence of womanhood is rooted in biology. There are experiences, challenges and physical capabilities that only biological women experience. These are realities that cannot be simply altered by a declaration of identity, regardless of intent or recognition. This is not to diminish the struggles people who view themselves as transgender may face, but to highlight that the unique lived reality of biological women is not something to be overlooked, erased or mocked.