Critics are labeling progressive movements as hypocritical for championing women's freedom while simultaneously expressing disdain for women who embrace traditional roles, such as motherhood, homeschooling, or aligning with their biological sex in sports. This perspective argues that modern feminism has narrowed its definition of female empowerment to exclude or even condemn choices that have historically defined womanhood.
The critique points to figures like U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who has spoken out against female athletes advocating for the exclusion of biological males from women's sports. Rapinoe's stance, which suggests that physical differences between men and women are minimal and that concerns about safety are a "wedge issue," is contrasted with past instances where the U.S. Women's National Team reportedly lost to a teenage boys' team. This comparison is used to question the notion that there are no meaningful physical distinctions between sexes.
Further examples cited include podcast host Jennifer Welch's strong criticisms of homeschooling mothers, whom she reportedly called "dumber than a box of hot rocks" and described as being trapped in a "patriarchal project" with unsupportive husbands. The article notes that homeschooling families span diverse backgrounds and that such rhetoric is seen not as a critique of homeschooling itself, but of the women who choose it.
Similarly, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, is mentioned for her comments criticizing "tradwives" (traditional wives) whose identities are perceived as being solely focused on consumerism or being in service to men. These comments are presented as part of a pattern of progressive discomfort with women who organize their lives around family.
Even media coverage, such as a New York Times feature on the pregnancy styles of women in the Trump administration, is interpreted through this lens. The article suggests bewilderment from the writer that conservative women would visibly embrace their pregnancies and continue ambitious careers, contrasting it with a past emphasis on minimizing pregnancy in professional settings.
The core argument is that while progressives advocate for women's freedom, their criticism is reserved for those who choose marriage, motherhood, homemaking, or large families. Those who acknowledge biological differences between men and women are accused of sexism, and women who embrace these differences through family-oriented choices are sometimes labeled as having internalized misogyny or adhering to fascist ideals. The piece concludes that modern progressive discourse, despite its rhetoric of empowerment, has hollowed out the traditional definition of womanhood by denying the reality of biological bodies and sneering at distinctly feminine roles embraced across history.