Does Naomi Osaka Give Support to Pete Hegseth’s Belief that Women Fold in Combat?

Does Naomi Osaka’s Crying Give Support to Pete Hegseth’s Belief that Women Fold in Combat? AOC Front Page

President-elect Donald Trump nominated former FOX News host Pete Hegseth to become Secretary of Defense in his administration.

There are many typically-disqualifying issues in Hegseth’s resume such as no experience managing any large organization, let alone the US Military. I’ll leave his well-established drinking problem and inability to manage even a small staff aside.

AOC’s interest in Hegseth’s nomination is focused on his strongly-held beliefs that American women should not serve in combat.

On November 7, 2024 Hegseth said on a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan that the military “should not have women in combat roles” and that “men in those positions are more capable.” He added:

“I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated.”

Should Professional Women Weep in the Workplace?

I found myself very disappointed last week with professional tennis player Naomi Osaka’s continued weeping in public. This has been going on for years now, and Naomi’s tears are used against all women — including our military women — as evidence that women don’t have what it takes to serve in high-stress situations and especially combat.

Most recently, Osaka was weeping when she withdrew from her Auckland Classic match last Sunday, a charity leadup tournament to the now-happening Australian Open. The details of her throwing the match to Denmark’s Clara Tauson involved an alleged abdominal muscle pull that prevented Naomi from continuing.

Days after Osaka posted this update about her injury:

"The MRI, it wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't bad at the same time. "I'm pretty optimistic about playing my match. I mean, for sure I'm going to play my match. [Osaka is referring to the Australian Open, where she won her first match today against Caroline Garcia. Good job Naomi!]

Brave Together: Naomi Osaka Teaches Us How to Face Anxiety and Depression, Compliments of Maybelline . . . Except That She Doesn’t Show Us Anything Worth Emulating

Naomi Osaka is also Maybelline New York’s first Brave Together Ambassador, a new assignment announced in October, 2024 in advance of World Mental Health Day. Osaka has events in Melbourne attached to this assignment.

I found that fact troubling, to be honest, especially after watching Osaka’s Maybelline events on video. When brands are stepping in as mental health counselors to women, you damn better well know what you’re doing.

Never Let Them See You Cry

Generally-speaking second wave feminists didn’t weep at work. This reality is considered outmoded by today’s mental health experts.

Let me be clear. In my research on women crying at work, Anne is the one not with the program. My experiences are outmoded, out of touch — although the more medical and sociological research I read, science may say “Thank goodness, someone spoke up here. Anne’s making a lot of sense in her concerns.”

Thinking about 1] my old-school life at Victoria’s Secret, 2] the upcoming Tuesday January 14, 2025 confirmation hearing of FOX News host Pete Hegseth to become Secretary of Defense in the Trump administration and 3] Naomi Osaka’s inability to stop crying when she has any serious challenge, I decided to bring myself — and now you, dear readers — up to speed on the thinking of the professional health community on the topic of women weeping at work.

Relief oF Amazonian Women