A political science professor at Boise State University is openly urging schools to bar women from engineering, medicine, and law because independent women are “medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome.”
Scott Yenor’s comments during the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando sparked outrage, with female students and lawmakers lambasting his “appalling ignorance” and misogyny.
During the conference, Yenor criticized feminism, saying its advocacy of independent women strikes a death blow to strong families: “Our culture is steeped with feminism. It teaches young boys and girls that they want the same things.”
Yenor believes male achievement in the country is not celebrated enough. “Every effort must be made not to recruit women into engineering, but rather to recruit and demand more men who become engineers. Ditto for med school, and the law, and every trade.”
He also expressed nostalgia for a time when birth control was unavailable and “women used to have many children,” adding that men should inspire young women so that they are “secure with feminine goals of homemaking and having children.”
His later apology failed to appease those who said it was “absolutely appalling” and a classic case of “mansplaining.”
‘He Needs to Come Into the Current Century’
Ever since Yenor’s speech took the internet by storm, students, university officials, and activists have spoken out about his comments.
“It’s disgusting. He needs to come into the current century, but it doesn’t sound like he will,” Boise State student Emily Walton told the Idaho Statesman.
On Tuesday, Yenor tweeted a video in response to his remarks. In an effort to clarify his stance, the professor said the empowered woman has become one of our most sacred values.
Feminists are outraged by a talk I recently gave for #NatCon2. Here’s my response. @NatConTalk pic.twitter.com/Jv3tIAE4xF
— Scott Yenor (@scottyenor) November 30, 2021
“In what way is [the independent woman] truly empowered?” he asked. “Are we even allowed to ask if it’s worked out for her? Sure, the weakening of a family has been good for some, but for others, it has brought addiction, suicide, misery, crime, pain, and purposelessness.”
School Statement
Boise State spokesperson Mike Sharp defended Yenor’s right to free speech, saying the university stands for academic freedom and the expression of ideas. He also added that those who have been hurt by Yenor’s remarks can contact the university’s Office of Institutional Compliance and Ethics.
While Boise State acknowledges that the open exchange of ideas can be uncomfortable, “The university cannot infringe upon the First Amendment rights of any members of our community,” Sharp stated.
