Christian activist and President and CEO of Concerned Women of America (CWA) Penny Young Nance has been expected to be nominated as Trump’s ambassador for global women’s issues, which has sparked quite a bit of controversy. Nance’s opinions on various issues regarding women’s equality have not been consistent with her statement to support women’s rights, and many are questioning if Nance will be a suitable candidate, moreso, if she can rightfully claim herself to be the model women’s right activist.

The CWA is a conservative Christian non profit that can serve as an alternative to the more common liberal organizations feminists find themselves a part of. The organization’s take on varying issues and controversies tend to be quite extreme, and conservative such as their  argument that transgender kids should not have the right to use gender bathrooms. “We cannot be expected to participate in someone else’s delusion,” said Penny Nance.

Both the CWA and Penny Nance herself play strong roles in the public’s political anger. “Her organization has attacked anti-bullying efforts, essentially giving bullies a green light to attack LGBTQ kids and other vulnerable children,” said JoDee Winterhof of the Human Rights Campaign. Much of this disbelief in the people has stemmed from several allegations and self contradictions that has created irony in Nance’s possible appointment of position.  

In a 2015 interview with Fox News, Nance commented on the popular Disney film “Frozen” claiming the movie sends a harmful message towards men. “Hollywood, in general, has often sent the message that men are superfluous, that they’re stupid, that they’re in the way, that if they contribute anything to a family, it’s a paycheck,” says Nance. “We want to raise heroes. We want to raise real men that will stick in their families and be great dads and be great providers and great husbands.”

These statements and her clear distaste for the inferiority of men suppose more of an identity of a men’s rights advocate, rather a women’s rights advocate.

“We want to encourage masculinity and not villainize masculinity. We’re Concerned Women for America and we’re the women’s group who love men — real men.”

Nance has made negative allegations towards the International Violence Against Women Act, stating that it “undermines marriage and disrespects women’s noble roles as mothers and wives.”

Moreso, Nance has attempted to undermine various human rights acts, and conventions including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the Peace Corps Equity Provision.

In addition to these contradictory, moreso ethically questionable statements made by Nance, as well as the CWA, Nance does not support abortion.

Nance wrote in The Christian Post, “It’s more of a theological discussion about the sovereignty of God amidst all things, even extreme evil like 9/11 or the holocaust or rape.”

Furthermore, the CWA believes that abortion is linked to cancer. With the accumulation of all of these various oxymoronic claims, and beliefs, a vast majority of individuals viewing Nance as an unfit candidate seems justified.  

Her experience and her track record don’t demonstrate a commitment to gender equality,” said Heather Higginbottom, chief operating officer of CARE USA, an anti-poverty organization largely focused on women and girls. “Her organization has attacked anti-bullying efforts, essentially giving bullies a green light to attack LGBTQ kids and other vulnerable children,” said JoDee Winterhof of the Human Rights Campaign.