May 16th 2024.
At the recent commencement ceremony for Catholic Benedictine College in Kansas, NFL star Harrison Butker was invited to give the keynote speech. But instead of delivering an uplifting message to the Class of 2024, he went on a strange rant about women, the LGBTQ community, and President Biden's views on Catholicism and pro-choice.
Despite the fact that both men and women were in attendance, with many of them having just completed their higher education, Butker chose to specifically address "the women" in the audience. He began by stating, "I want to speak to you, the women, because I believe you have been fed the most deceitful lies." And what are these lies, you may ask? According to Butker, society has convinced women to prioritize their careers over motherhood and marriage.
Butker, who is married to a woman named Isabelle, shared that his wife considers her life to have truly begun once she embraced her role as a wife and mother. While this may work for Isabelle, it is not fair to generalize and impose this belief onto all women. It is especially laughable considering Butker's own mother, Elizabeth, is an accomplished physicist with a master's degree and numerous other accomplishments, proving that women can have both successful careers and families.
Butker's speech did not stop there. He went on to criticize the LGBTQ community and their "deadly sin of pride," as well as denounce practices such as abortion, IVF, surrogacy, and euthanasia as part of our "degenerate cultural values." It is clear that his speech was filled with offensive and outdated views.
As a single, heterosexual, childless woman in her thirties, I find it insulting that Butker believes my life only has value once I have a partner and children. While there is nothing wrong with wanting and having those things, it should not be the only measure of a woman's worth. It is a personal choice and should not be imposed on anyone.
In 2024, it is disheartening that women are still reduced to the sum of their relationships and reproductive abilities. I, like many others, have focused on my career and have taken great pride in my accomplishments. Coming from a working-class background, I have always strived for more and worked hard to achieve my goals. And beyond my career, I have lived a fulfilling life, traveling, socializing, and experiencing things I never thought possible.
Despite Butker's narrow-minded views, I refuse to let his words diminish my sense of self-worth. It is men like him who should be pitied for their insecurities about female ambition and success. I am content with the life I have built for myself, and anyone who believes otherwise is simply misguided.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
