Because there are many programs deliberately designed to benefit women - as in, their public stated goal as well as taking direct (as opposed to indirect, i.e requiring height or strength) steps to limit their benefits to women.
Minority isn't just numerical, it can also mean having a minority of power. For example, in South Africa Black people were (and still are in many ways) a minority even though they were a numerical majority.
One would be pretty hard-pressed to argue that women hold "minority of power. For several decades now, women have had higher college enrollment rates. And among the two youngest generations, the gender pay gap has actually reversed with women out-earning men [1]. One could very well make the argument that discrimination favoring women isn't affirmative action, but rather "punching down" so to speak.
> Abortion rights we're just taken away in a number of states. That's a pretty naked display of power.
A policy change that women are actually more likely to support than men. If it's a naked display of power, it's power of a group that's actually slightly overrepresented towards women.
My Alma matter literally does everything in their power to boost female admits. It’s grown from 1:4 to roughly 1:3 after a decade of new majors, new scholarships, lower admission scores. This all comes at the cost of well qualified Asian and white males.
Multiple studies found White woman are the biggest benefactors of affirmative action.
