Feminists Suffer Distress from Sex Skepticism
False Assumption: Suggesting innate sex differences in aptitude or physical standards for combat causes feminists severe emotional or physical distress.
Written by FARAgent on February 10, 2026
In 2005, Harvard President Larry Summers noted that the IQ bell curve is broader for men, explaining more men at math extremes. MIT professor Nancy Hopkins fled the room, claiming she couldn't breathe and felt physically ill from the bias.
Twenty years later, in 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth implied women enter combat via lowered standards rather than meeting high ones. Retired Navy captain Bobbie Scholley watched his speech until her gut clenched; she shut her laptop after 30 minutes.
Mainstream media frames these reactions as typical female hurt from brute male skepticism. Critics question if such fragility justifies silencing debate on combat readiness and aptitude distributions.
People Involved
- In January 2005, at a conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard President Lawrence Summers spoke on the broader variance in male IQ scores. He suggested this might explain why fewer women reached the top in mathematics.
- Nancy Hopkins, a feminist biology professor at MIT, heard his words and left the room. She later said they made her physically ill, as if she might faint or vomit. [1] Critics saw Summers as a lone voice warning of uncomfortable facts, but denunciations followed. He faced accusations of shocking women's sensibilities.
- Years later, in 2023, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed combat standards for women in the military. He implied that women often gained entry through relaxed requirements rather than equal performance.
- Retired Navy captain Bobbie Scholley, an advocate for women in special operations, watched the livestream from her home. Her gut clenched at his words, and she turned it off. [1] Media reports framed Hegseth's skepticism as a blow to professional women's feelings. Critics argue these reactions exemplify a narrative of emotional fragility, though the assumption remains debated among experts.
▶ Supporting Quotes (4)
““When he started talking about innate differences in aptitude between men and women, I just couldn’t breathe because this kind of bias makes me physically ill,” Nancy declared.”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
““I listened to it with my gut just clenching, and it just kept getting worse and worse and worse until finally I turned it off,” Captain Scholley said in an interview.”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
“Harvard President Lawrence Summers was widely denounced for causing MIT feminist biology professor Nancy Hopkins to flee in horror to avoid fainting when Larry pointed out that the IQ bell curve tends to be broader for men than for women and thus there are more male professors in the Harvard math department.”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
“The defense secretary raised the issue suggesting women were getting into combat not because they met high standards, but because they were given a pass.”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
Organizations Involved
The New York Times played a key role in shaping the story. In its news section, the paper ran an article on Hegseth's remarks about combat standards. It described how his words emotionally wounded women advocates, reinforcing the idea that feminists were delicate in the face of skepticism. [1] This framing helped sustain the assumption within mainstream discourse, even as growing questions surround its validity.
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“What Women Heard in Hegseth’s Remarks About Physical Standards”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
The Foundation
The assumption took root in moments like Summers' 2005 talk. He cited evidence of broader male IQ variance, which could lead to more men at the extremes of ability, including top mathematicians. Critics, including Hopkins, dismissed this as biased heresy that caused real distress. [1] They upheld a belief in equal aptitudes across sexes, without innate differences. Similarly, Hegseth's comments on physical standards for women in combat fed the narrative. He suggested that entry often came via lowered bars, not equal footing. Media outlets assumed women met standards just as men did, so questioning this implied unfair passes and hurt feelings. [1] Mounting evidence challenges this foundation, with critics arguing that such reactions may overstate distress, though the debate persists.
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“Larry pointed out that the IQ bell curve tends to be broader for men than for women and thus there are more male professors in the Harvard math department.”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
“How dare a brute of a man like Pete Hegseth imply that women aren't tough enough for combat?”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
How It Spread
The idea spread through mainstream media channels. News sections portrayed feminists' responses to Summers and Hegseth as scenes of gut-wrenching horror, triggered by male doubts on women's aptitude or toughness. [1] The New York Times amplified this in its coverage of Hegseth, focusing on the hurt feelings of women in military roles. Such stories framed skepticism as a source of severe emotional or physical distress. [1] Over time, this narrative gained traction in academic and public discussions, yet critics argue it relies on selective anecdotes, leaving the assumption contested.
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“One of the funnier patterns is how the mainstream media tends to portray feminists as such delicate flowers that no brute of a man...should ever dare shock professional women’s fragile feelings”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
“from the New York Times news section in 2025: What Women Heard in Hegseth’s Remarks About Physical Standards”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
Harm Caused
The fallout hit Summers hard. After his 2005 remarks on aptitude differences, he endured widespread denunciation from colleagues and activists. This episode marked an early stir of what became known as woke cancel culture. [1] It damaged his presidency at Harvard, forcing apologies and eventual resignation. Growing questions surround whether such harms stemmed from genuine distress or from efforts to silence debate, but the consequences were real and lasting.
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“20 years ago at the dawn of woke cancel culture, Harvard President Lawrence Summers was widely denounced”— Are Feminists as Delicate Flowers as the MSM Suggests?
Sources
- [1]