Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk managed to shut down a self-identified feminist last month during a Q&A portion of an event held at the University of Arkansas.
A feminist student asked Kirk what he would say to feminists who believe that men who want to be seen as women should be entitled to all the rights and privileges of biological women during the March “Educate Don’t Mandate” event on the campus.
“What would you say to feminists, specifically those— I think you would consider biological women— who are in support of trans women being able to access historically women’s spaces like female bathrooms and being able to participate in women’s sports?” the woman asked.
“Are you one of those feminists?” Kirk asked. After she said she was, Kirk then asked: “What is a woman?”
The student responded by claiming that a woman is “somebody who identifies as a woman.”
“Can I become a woman?” Kirk asked.
“Do you have gender dysphoria?” the woman asked.
“Thankfully, no,” Kirk quipped.
“Then no,” the woman said.
“So only if you have gender dysphoria, you can identify as a woman?” the TPUSA founder pressed.
“It’s a medical condition,” she said.
“It’s a medical condition. So anyone at any time can become a woman,” Kirk said in order to have her clarify her point.
“Uh, no,” the student responded, beginning to sound a bit confused.
“Well anyone could have gender dysphoria,” Kirk noted. “You claim it upon yourself. You know what? I’m actually thinking I might actually have gender dysphoria. So can I become a woman?”
“Well, I wish you the best in your transition and I hope that society accepts you,” she said, seemingly dismissive of his claim as perhaps simply being argumentative.
But Kirk pressed the student further, noting there have, of late, been some disturbing instances of biological males competing in biological female sporting events and dominating them, though women of the past — many of them feminists — fought hard for the establishment of all-female sports.
“What is cheating?” Kirk asked. As the student struggled to come up with a textbook response, Kirk continued.
“Like give an example. Maybe taking something from somebody or a strong person, maybe using their power against the weak?”
“Sure,” she agreed.
“Okay. Using their power against the weak. Okay, is Lia Thomas, or William Thomas, biologically stronger than the competitors that he/she was against?” Kirk asked, in reference to the University of Pennsylvania swimmer who is biologically male and competed in male-only events at the university for three years before transitioning to female competition this year as a transgender.
“I don’t, uh, I’m not, I don’t know about that specific situation,” the student responded, adding: “Probably because she has never won.”
In fact, Lia Thomas has won a lot, and has even set records — for female category swimmers.
“So the other women against the man were born with less bone density, lower testosterone levels. What are they supposed to do to make it even?” Kirk pressed.
“I would not know in that specific situation,” the student responded.
“So there’s nothing they can do because men have more testosterone, muscle mass, and bone density,” Kirk explained. “So wouldn’t that be cheating?”
“I feel like I’m being pulled into a trap,” the student said, adding that she was going to “step away.”
“No, it’s not a trap,” Kirk reassured her. “Got it. And you’re a feminist.”
“I am,” she said.
“What women are you trying to protect?” Kirk pressed.
“Women, all women,” she said.
“That you can’t define,” responded.
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