Harrison Butker's Commencement Speech Sparks Debate on Women's Roles

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's graduation speech at Benedictine College, in which he extolled the virtues of traditional gender roles, has ignited a heated debate, with women across the country coming to his defense and others condemning his comments as sexist.

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's commencement speech at Benedictine College has sparked a fierce debate on women's roles in society, with college-educated and working women rallying to his defense while others condemn his remarks as sexist.

Butker's speech, delivered on May 11th, drew backlash for his assertion that wives and mothers play the most vital role in society and that women's primary focus should be on marriage and childbearing. "I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you," he said, "How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career?"

"Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

His comments drew immediate criticism from some, including Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's wife, Kelly Stafford. "It is a choice," she said. "It is a woman's choice whether she is just a mom. It is a woman's choice whether she decides to be a career woman. It is a woman's choice if she decides to do both and balance and do all that. And I think for someone to get up at a commencement speech and tell women who have been working their butts off for four years, possibly paying their way and are now in debt and they're gonna need a career, that their biggest success story will be being a mom and a wife and don’t get me wrong, that might be. But it’s their choice whether they do that or not."

However, Butker's defense came in the form of a rallying cry on platforms like Twitter and TikTok, with women with degrees and careers expressing agreement with his sentiments. "My name is Noelle, I have three degrees, and I agree that the world needs more masculinity and that wives/mothers are vital for society," wrote Noelle Fitchett, host of the "Out of Context" podcast.

Tara Ross, a retired attorney and author, echoed those sentiments: "I am a Rice University grad and a UT Law School grad. I know a ton about the Electoral College, constitutional history, and American history in general. I have authored multiple books. The greatest thing I've done in my life, however, are my family/kids. I agree with Harrison Butker. More wives and mothers, please."

The debate has also found its way into the media, with left-wing voices such as Bill Maher and Whoopi Goldberg defending Butker's right to free speech. "I don't see what the big crime is," said Maher. Goldberg also expressed support for Butker's right to express his beliefs, stating, "Listen, I like when people say what they need to say. He's at a Catholic college. He's a staunch Catholic. These are his beliefs and he's welcome to 'em."

The controversy over Butker's speech highlights the ongoing debate over women's roles in society, with some advocating for traditional gender roles while others believe women should have the freedom to choose their own paths in life.