On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order restoring biological clarity to federal policy — a decision that underscored the critical importance of defining what it means to be a woman or a girl. This move was not merely symbolic. Rather, it addressed a foundational issue at the heart of effective policymaking.
The Biden administration’s unwillingness or inability to provide clear definitions created significant barriers to crafting policies that protected women and girls, both in the U.S. and globally. This ambiguity left vulnerable populations exposed and weakened America’s credibility as a champion of human rights.
Over the last four years, conflict-related sexual violence has surged, disproportionately affecting women and girls. In Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and other regions plagued by war and political instability, women and girls have been deliberately targeted. These acts are not isolated or random; they are calculated strategies employed to destabilize communities and terrorize populations.
Rape, forced marriage and other forms of gender-based violence have become weapons of war, wielded to achieve political and military objectives. Addressing these atrocities requires clear definitions of who qualifies as a woman or girl. Without such clarity, policymakers cannot allocate resources effectively, design interventions or deliver justice to victims.
International organizations such as UN Women have struggled to respond to these crises, largely because of definitional confusion. Without a consistent understanding of who falls under the categories of “woman” and “girl,” policies become muddled, and enforcement mechanisms falter.
For example, if “gender” is reduced to a subjective matter of self-identification, how can data be accurately tracked? How can resources be allocated to those who are biologically vulnerable to certain forms of violence, such as sexual assault? These gaps result in a failure to uphold the very mandates these organizations were created to fulfill. The consequences are far-reaching, leaving victims without recourse and emboldening perpetrators to act with impunity.
This lack of clarity does not exist in isolation. Authoritarian regimes and oppressive actors exploit the West’s struggle to define foundational concepts like “woman” and “girl,” using it to frame democratic nations as morally incoherent. These regimes hypocritically portray themselves as guardians of traditional values, contrasting their own oppressive policies with what they describe as the West’s failure to protect women. This narrative distracts from their systemic abuses while undermining international efforts to hold them accountable.
When the West fails to provide a clear, principled stance on biological realities, it cedes moral high ground and weakens its ability to advocate for human rights effectively.
The refusal to define women and girls is often framed as an act of inclusivity, but in practice, it undermines protections for the most vulnerable and creates opportunities for bad actors to exploit ambiguity. Inclusivity cannot come at the expense of clarity, especially when that clarity is essential to safeguarding the rights and dignity of those at greatest risk. A principled stance on biological realities is not exclusionary; it is a matter of justice and common sense.
Trump’s executive order demonstrated the moral clarity and political courage needed to address this issue head-on. His decision to restore biological truth to federal policy affirmed that the first step in protecting women and girls is recognizing who they are. This is not a partisan issue; it is a humanitarian imperative. The fight against gender-based violence is inseparable from the fight to define women and girls with precision.
In an era of rising authoritarianism and weaponized gender violence, the West cannot waver. Nations that value human rights must reaffirm their commitment to dignity and equality by grounding their policies in biological truth. Clarity is not only a moral necessity but also a strategic imperative. By defining and protecting women and girls, we reaffirm the very ideals that form the foundation of free and just societies.
Meaghan Mobbs, Ph.D., is the director of the Center for American Safety and Security at Independent Women.
