'There isn't one single 'biological' answer to the definition of a woman'īlackburn tweeted after the exchange that 'this is a simple question,' and called Jackson's response 'a major red flag.'īut Jordan-Young said she sees Jackson's answer, particularly the second half, reflecting the necessity of nuance.

If Jackson is confirmed, it's inevitable she will preside over cases involving trans rights. The exchange reflects the current state of gender politics in the U.S., as transgender swimmer Lia Thomas' recent NCAA win sparked a fierce debate over trans athletes, as a flurry of bills have sought to ban gender-affirming health care for trans youth, and as other bills have banned trans girls from participating in K-12 girls' sports. Senators on both sides of the aisle have used Jackson's confirmation hearing to air issues that have less to do with Jackson's qualifications and more to do with their respective parties. Jackson, appearing confused, responded, 'I’m not a biologist.”īlackburn chided Jackson, claiming that 'the fact that you can’t give me a straight answer about something as fundamental as what a woman is underscores the dangers of the kind of progressive education that we are hearing about.' Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., asked the Supreme Court nominee: “Can you provide a definition for the word ‘woman’?” In the 13th hour of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation hearing Tuesday, Sen.

There is no sufficient way to clearly define what makes someone a woman.

Blackburn was displeased, but experts say Jackson's answer was scientifically sound.

When Marsha Blackburn asked Ketanji Brown Jackson to define 'woman,' she said 'I'm not a biologist.'.

What is the definition of science