Amy Coney Barrett and the “Woman Question”

Amy Coney Barrett’s new book, Listening to the Law, is, prima facie, about her understanding of law, the Constitution, and the Supreme Court. As such, it is worthwhile reading for anyone seeking a better understanding of the judicial branch of government. And yet, learning more about the American legal process was not the primary reason I trekked to New York City to attend a live interview with Barrett. Instead, I was more interested in Barrett as a person, and particularly as a woman. The hysteria on both the right and left over Barrett’s nomination to the Court and subsequent decisions betrays a deeper cultural crisis over the meaning of American womanhood. While Barrett’s very existence as a stereotype-defying conservative, Catholic, professionally successful mother of seven has provoked the ire of many, I also believe her example can lead America toward a better understanding of the role of women in America—past, present, and future.