Hollywood movie director Joss Whedon posed some controversial questions on his Twitter account Sunday, asking why "men get to vote on women's reproductive health issues" and likening the dynamic to "rabbis electing a pope."
Whedon, who directed "The Avengers," among other films, didn't provide context, though his questions come in the wake of the controversial Hobby Lobby Supreme Court ruling barring the government from forcing small companies with religious objections to offer birth control coverage.
"Why do men get to vote on women's reproductive health issues AT ALL?," Whedon tweeted from his official account. "Isn't that like rabbis electing a pope?"
Why do men get to vote on women's reproductive health issues AT ALL? Isn't that like rabbis electing a pope?
— Joss Whedon (@josswhedon) July 13, 2014
Reactions to his rhetorical questions were diverse. Some of his followers supported him, with one women even asking him to become "president of the world." Here are some of the favorable responses:
@josswhedon Marry me plz.
— Karlee Kanz (@KarleeKanz) July 13, 2014
@josswhedon Please be President of the World.
— Suzi Wilkin (@SuziWilkin) July 13, 2014
@josswhedon thank you for existing and helping us (humans)
— Gracie Hagen (@GracieHagen) July 13, 2014
@josswhedon keep continuing to be my hero :)
— Sinister Kid (@idek_linz) July 13, 2014
And here are some detractors and others who seem less than enthusiastic about the comparison Whedon made:
@josswhedon Because it takes more than just a woman to make a baby.
— Katie Hendrickson (@Shadowkat91) July 13, 2014
@josswhedon I dunno. Why do employees get to vote on what benefits employers offer AT ALL?
— Franklin Harris (@FranklinH3000) July 13, 2014
.@josswhedon Why is a woman's reproductive system 0% their boss' business yet 100% their financial responsibility?
— Kenny Hitt (@fusionaddict) July 13, 2014
@josswhedon That stupid argument could be used on 100's of issues. Why do judges get to decide water rights issues if they aren't farmers?
— William Keane (@largebill68) July 13, 2014
You can read all of the responses here. What do you think?