Gov. Ron DeSantis defended his appointment to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees of a political scientist who claims that encouraging women to prioritize their careers has led to the decline of family life.
In speeches, essays, articles, and interviews Scott Yenor details his views against same-sex relationships, including that LGBTQ+ practices bring “dreaded diseases,” and labeling career-oriented women as “medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome.”
But DeSantis claimed during a press conference Friday that he wasn’t familiar with Yenor’s views that women should put motherhood first, which he first garnered criticism for after his remarks at the National Conservatism Conference in 2021 and has since repeated in other writings and interviews.
“I’m not familiar with that. I mean, obviously, I think if you look at the state of Florida, we probably have a higher percentage of women enrolled in our state universities than we do men, and that’s probably grown under my tenure,” DeSantis said during the Jacksonville press conference in which he talked about the results of his education policy. “But what I don’t do, what I don’t like is cherry-picking somebody saying this, and then trying to smear them.”
Democratic Sen. Lori Berman of Palm Beach County called Yenor’s opinions troubling and said nominating someone like Yenor to the board was counterproductive.
“I find the whole thing shocking,” she said. “I think it’s a throwback to an age that is in the past and belongs in the past. We have seen that women have been part of the workforce now for many many years, and it’s been very successful. We’ve had women advance in business, in politics, in nonprofits, and education, and all of these careers because they went to college.”
Most notably, Yenor is a political science professor at Boise State University and was a fellow at conservative think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation and The Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life.
In a 2023 interview with the First Things podcast, published by a journal of religion and public life of the same name, Yenor described how honor and shame were the most effective tools to deal with declining birth and marriage rates.
“But what the effect of that large number of single, never-married females, and childless females are going to have on our politics, on our regime, on our political culture is something that — because it’s historically unprecedented — it’s something that we don’t really have a great grasp on,” Yenor said in the interview.
Will UWF become the new New College?
The governor’s office announced DeSantis tapped Yenor and four others to the UWF board on Monday. The university in Pensacola has 14,300 students and 2,400 faculty and staff, according to its website. The Board has 13 members and the Florida Senate must confirm all appointments.
“You can have people get appointed who have flagrant left-wing backgrounds, and that’s just swept under the rug,” DeSantis said. “You never hear legacy media trying to highlight any of that. So I don’t play those games. The proof is going to be in the pudding about what they’re willing to do.”
DeSantis also said during the press conference that there would be changes coming to UWF, referring to the institution as highly politicized. The shakeup of the board mirrors the governor’s overhaul two years ago of the board of New College of Florida in Sarasota.
–Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix
Sherry says
Yep! The horrific chauvinists are in charge again. . . OK ladies back on your backs, or in the kitchen, or maternity ward. . . you are now second class citizens in what is now a second class country. . . Get Over It! So says the maga cult members! I’ll only remind them. . . pay backs are hell! Women in the US will eventually have their day. . . OK make that century!
Ed P says
Get a grip. This the UWF. It’s a 13 member governing body. The governor only appoints 6, not the majority.
Deborah Coffey says
Women…it’s time to unite.
Atwp says
Believe Desantis, you all have that right but I don’t believe him.
Jim says
DeSantis says: “I’m not familiar with that. I mean, obviously, I think if you look at the state of Florida, we probably have a higher percentage of women enrolled in our state universities than we do men, and that’s probably grown under my tenure,” DeSantis said during the Jacksonville press conference in which he talked about the results of his education policy. “But what I don’t do, what I don’t like is cherry-picking somebody saying this, and then trying to smear them.””
So, if someone who is going to have impact on many Floridians and our institutions makes a sexist, ignorant statement and repeats it multiple times, DeSantis says that’s “cherry-picking”? And he goes on to say: ““You can have people get appointed who have flagrant left-wing backgrounds, and that’s just swept under the rug,” DeSantis said. ” So he wants it both ways – make sure if it’s a “lefty”, broadcast the stupid things they say but if it’s a “righty”, we should just all ignore the comment.
I don’t know how to judge someone other by what they say or do. I guess in MAGA land, we’re just supposed to trust people like DeSantis to do the right thing. After all, New College has turned out great right? Other than dropping in rankings and losing many professional staff, that is.
Laurel says
Okay Republicans, tell me again how your heroes are not bigots. Tell us “Childless crazy cat ladies” and “medicated, meddlesome, quarrelsome” women should believe that DeSantis, Vance and Trump know nothing about the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. How about Justice Thomas’s desire to reconsider birth control?
Are you kidding me? Republican women, this is what you voted for. Are you going to stand up to it?
Skibum says
The PERFECT maga candidate for every position is, well DUH, obviously a man because according to the maga faithful, women only have two roles they are good it according to them. When not in the bedroom at their man’s command, they need to scurry barefoot into the kitchen to make their man some grub. Never mind the fact that Flori-DUH is already recognized as being 40 years behind in many areas, the maga mush brains would prefer to reverse all of the progress made and take us back to the 1800s.
Matt says
Scott Yenor is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ! most of the replies on here prove this to be fact, especially the first one from “Sherry” , I pity the poor guy she is involved with, & if it’s not a guy, then Scott Yenors point is even doubly proven. Homosexuals LOVE to argue ! The reason why is because similar to women emotions control their behaviour & decision making skills.
Just look at the job performance of the chief of the LA fire dept. as a fine example. Over & over & over again typically whenever you put a female in any relative authority position the decline in performance of that group is inevitable & measurable, these facts are sadly indisputable. This is not to say that women do not deserve equal rights etc. they are definitely NOT second class citizens, every man should have at least one of them. (partly joking there so relax Sherry & all you other Karen’s out there.)
Of course there is the rare oddity that pops up every so often where a woman’s leadership outperforms their male counterparts & certainly not all men have leadership qualities, some can’t even figure out what gender they are. And there you have it, I shall leave you with this reality; You can NOT spell woman without also spelling man.
Skibum says
So, according to your irrational and contemptuous “logic” about women, the Reagan’s selections of Sandra Day O’Connor and Trump’s selection of Amy Comey Barrett to the Supreme Court, along with their GOP supporting rulings, were okay, but if they voted on supporting anything along with the liberal justices then they were merely DEI plants and second hand citizens not worthy of being on the Supreme Court… because you disagreed with them. Got it loud and clear. Your trailer home must be adorned wall to wall with swastikas and white supremist flags? Or just maybe, you’re a 57 year old who is still living with, and being supported by mommy? I am only guessing due to your obvious lack of intellect that should have allowed a more informed and rational comment had you attained a GED.
Laurel says
I’m sorry, did I wake up in 1950? Can’t believe people still actually think this way!
Matt, please explain to me why the vast majority of serial killers, mass murderers and those who start wars, are men, since women are so controlled by their emotions.
Must be that “Blood coming out of everywhere” thing like Trump stated.
Shit, Americans are slow to progress, aren’t we? Two steps forward and one nasty step back.
Now, brace yourselves for rationalization.
Laurel says
Matt? Matt? Serial killers and mass murderers? Matt? How about domestic violence, Matt? https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
Hello? So, is Trump, an adulterer and adjudicated rapist, going to fix this too? You know, this woman *emotional, genetic problem*?
Sherry says
I see the despicable, brainwashed, chauvinistic “Maga Trolls” are out in full force. LOL! So insecure, so fear filled, so pathetic! Poor things! LOL! LOL! LOL!
Tony Mack says
I read Matt’s response just to the line where he stated (unequivocally, mind you) “Over & over & over again typically whenever you put a female in any relative authority position the decline in performance of that group is inevitable & measurable, these facts are sadly indisputable…” No doubt, it’s indisputable…
Some of the most senior women in the U.S. military include:
Adm. Linda Fagan: Commandant of the Coast Guard
Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost: Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command (Air Force)
Gen. Laura Richardson: Commander of the U.S. Southern Command (Army)
Adm. Lisa Franchetti: Vice chief of Naval Operations (Navy)
Christine E. Wormuth: Secretary of the Army
Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels: Chief of the Army Reserve and Commanding General of U.S. Army Reserve Command
Chief Master Sgt. Joanne S. Bass: Chief master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force
These senior officers earned their commands…say again…they earned those commands!
According to U.S. Army , special operations was open to females in 2015;
Command Sgt. Maj. Veronica Knapp was the first female to assume duties as the 34th Command Sergeant Major of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in 2021;
Command Sgt. Maj. Lynice Thorpe-Noel was the first female senior enlisted leader of Human Resource Command (HRC) in 2019;
and Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King was the first female commandant of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School in 2009.
Not to mention Golda Meir and Margaret Thatcher. Both the Navy and the Air Force have female fighter pilots who have seen combat. I doubt Matt would even think about landing on the pitching deck of an aircraft carrier at night and in the rain.
That would be indisputable.
Sherry says
Thank you Tony Mack! It’s so great to read what a confident “real man” has to say about women. Unfortunately, those that could really benefit from the information you have pointed out will likely not be influenced at all. Because you see in their minds they are absolutely deadlocked into their fear, anger, prejudices and hate. They are convinced that they have absolutely nothing to learn.
Thanks so much for trying though! You have my respect and admiration, Tony Mack!
Laurel says
Prejudice towards women is like thumb sucking for some. It’s soothing to them.
c says
You should know by now that bringing facts to a MAGA argument is like :
“To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.”
Thomas Paine
“I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it”.
George Bernard Shaw
We need some newer aphorisms to describe the mealy-mouth, lying, fascist, bigoted, machismo creatures masquerading as human beings today.
Skibum says
Another appropriate come back to the Matt types: “I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed person”.
Matt says
Another fine example.
https://youtube.com/shorts/6pDTedR6PM0?si=LnPeLBsxqs4y77Eg
You must have missed the part where I said that women are NOT 2nd class citizens, you certainly missed the humor.
Megan Kelly gets it, why can’t you.
Laurel says
Oh, I don’t know, Matt. Maybe because you don’t define, or represent us.