Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has issued an executive order that bans the use of certain “woke” language in state government. The order aims to preserve gender distinctions between men and women and prevent the erasure of women and girls.
The order specifically targets the use of terms like “chestfeeding” and “pregnant people,” which the governor considers nonsensical and part of a broader effort to undermine women’s experiences. The executive order was signed by Governor Sanders in the presence of female lawmakers and was announced on social media.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, the state Senate voted to remove the terms “woman” and “she” from a breastfeeding antidiscrimination act and replace them with the gender-neutral term “individual.” The proposed amendment to reinstate the terms “woman” and “she” was rejected by the Democrat-controlled Senate.
State Senator Michele Hoitenga, who supported the rejected amendment, highlighted that women are the only individuals who can breastfeed or pump milk, and the removal of gender-specific terms from the bill undermines women’s role in breastfeeding.
The bill’s sponsor, Democrat state Senator Jeff Irwin, opposed the amendment and emphasized that the legislation aims to support mothers and babies, not perpetuate a culture war.
The Biden administration has also been involved in replacing sex-specific terms, such as using “birthing people” instead of “mothers” in maternal-health guidance. This shift acknowledges transgender men, who are biologically female and capable of giving birth and lactating.
Governor Sanders’ executive order in Arkansas also requires the use of terms like “breastfeeding” instead of “chestfeeding” and “breastfed” instead of “body fed.” The order further prohibits the use of terms like “womxn” and “womyn,” which are sometimes used by leftists as alternatives to “woman.”
The governor’s stance on the issue has been shared on social media, emphasizing the importance of recognizing biology and chromosomes and reaffirming that only women can give birth.
