What Is a Woman?

• Directed by Justin Folk
• June 1, 2022
• The Daily Wire

Political commentator Matt Walsh asks various people “What is a woman?”

Before I get into things, you must know What Is a Woman? will only reaffirm viewpoints no matter your side. No opinions will be swayed here. I certainly suggest viewing this to see how others think. It is very enlightening when it comes to mindsets.

My viewing of What Is a Woman? occurred on Twitter whenever it was available there and kept bumping it around my schedule so that is why I am late to the game. I heard about it because of the uproar it had initially caused and my curiosity was peaked. “All press is good press”-or something like that. In no way though am I paying for a subscription to watch one documentary. My curiosity is never that strong but when you’re giving it away that’s another matter.

What struck me was that Walsh, who also serves as narrator, asked a very basic question and the people featured in the film couldn’t give him an answer. I’m not sure if they didn’t know the answer or were concerned that whatever answer they might give might not be acceptable to their peers. A then sitting congressman even cut off his interview rather than answer.

You could argue that footage was left on the floor in order to make these people look bad but being unable to give an answer that does not use the word to define the word is enough in and of itself. One thing that was drilled into me in public education since elementary school is that you cannot use the word you’re defining in its definition. Doing so defines nothing and while the average person on the street might not get that, I would expect those in academia to know better.

What Is a Woman? uses the Borat method to get its soundbites but without Walsh playing a character. People will gladly talk to you (even momentarily) if you have a camera. This uses that to great effect to get people in front of Walsh who would probably not otherwise speak to him.

To say Matt Walsh is a polarizing figure is to put it mildly. He generates strong opinions no matter who you ask or their particular side of the political aisle. Having said that, I think he crafts a good documentary based around a simple queery. It’s not simply the question but it’s the things that causes the question to be asked. He discusses Alfred Charles Kinsey and John Money and their thoughts and ideas in the current debate on gender and gender identity.

I think What Is a Woman? fails when it mentions them because it ONLY really mentions them without giving too much info on either. Neither are household names and the details of what either have done or contributed are not something that gets generally brought up. With Money in particular I had to refresh myself.

They even get into the infamous interview on The Dr. Phil Show. Those people there-Dr. Phil included-did little to aid their cause and played well into Walsh’s hands. He came to fight and they came to speak to others who would just agree. Maybe Walsh just knew where to go to seek opposition.

I guess to highlight what he feels is the absurdity of it all Walsh talks about the terms “non-binary” and “transgender” with a Maasai tribe in Kenya, the members of whom have a very black and white view of it all. They find the question comical. Their view is clear and uncomplicated in comparison to the academics spoken with.

Speaking of comical, this ends on a funny note that most men can identify with where Walsh’s wife when handing him a jar defines a woman as “an adult human female who needs help opening this.”

But does What Is a Woman? entertain? I think it does. It holds your attention. There are moments of humor and dare I say mockery of the self-important documentary. Ultimately What Is a Woman? is a surprisingly entertaining entry in the world of documentaries and worth a watch.