Sophie Gregoire Trudeau鈥檚 Facebook post urging women to celebrate men who promote gender equality on International Women鈥檚 Day has sparked both backlash and support on social media.
鈥淭his week, as we mark , let鈥檚 celebrate the boys and men in our lives who encourage us to be who we truly are, who treat girls & women with respect, and who aren鈥檛 afraid to speak up in front of others,鈥� Gregoire Trudeau wrote Tuesday. 鈥淭ake a picture holding hands with your male ally & share it on social media using the hashtag #TomorrowInHand.鈥�
Gregoire Trudeau posted an image of herself holding hands with her husband, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
After 24 hours the post had received thousands of 鈥渓ikes鈥� and 鈥渓oves,鈥� and nearly 3,000 comments. But the top comment, with more than 5,000 鈥渓ikes,鈥� asked why men should be celebrated on International Women鈥檚 Day.
鈥淚 am puzzled. There are so many things that can be done to celebrate women, and yet the call goes out to celebrating men. Allies and unity are crucial, but so is womanhood,鈥� wrote a Facebook user named Bibi Ebel.
Below that, the second-top comment with more than 400 鈥渓ikes鈥� was equally critical.
鈥淯gh, really?!?! Don't we already celebrate men enough?? Do we really need to make International WOMENS Day about the men in our lives??? This seems to really miss the whole point,鈥� wrote a user named Kristina Kurth Benoit.
Twitter user Robin Mazumder weighed in, saying as a 鈥渕ale ally, the last thing I would want to do is receive recognition and take up space on any day, let alone #IWD2017.鈥�
As a male ally, the last thing I would want to do is receive recognition and take up space on any day, let alone .
鈥� Robin Mazumder (@RobinMazumder)
Oyster wife tweeted: 鈥淏ecause what we really need to do on international women鈥檚 day is pay more attention to men."
because what we really need to do on international women's day is pay more attention to men
鈥� oyster wife (@adultcola_)
The backlash continued on Twitter, where Conservative MP Michelle Rempel said she鈥檚 鈥渘ever had to have my hand held.鈥�
I've never had to have my hand held.
鈥� Michelle Rempel (@MichelleRempel)
But back on the original Facebook post, where 鈥渓ikes鈥� outweighed the negative comments, others defended Gregoire Trudeau.
鈥淚t was just a comment to include not divide for heavens sake,鈥� wrote one supporter. 鈥淭he negativity this post has brought out does not even make sense.鈥�
Others simply took up Gregoire Trudeau鈥檚 call, posting social media images featuring their male partners.
One Instagram user wrote that it鈥檚 鈥渢ime to take a stand and to help women who are unable to help themselves, also take the time to thank the important male figures in your (life) who appreciate you and treat you with the respect you deserve.鈥�
Gregoire Trudeau responded to the controversy in a follow-up post Tuesday night -- and stayed positive.
鈥淲ell, now we鈥檙e having a conversation! Thanks to everyone for your feedback and pics! Love it. Our goal is gender equality, and fighting for it is going to require men and women working together -- raising our boys and girls to make a difference, hand-in-hand,鈥� she wrote.
She further explained her thinking behind her original post on CTV Ottawa鈥檚 Morning Live show Wednesday.
鈥淭he idea is that we cannot create economic prosperity, we cannot create equality, and we cannot create unity and strength in our own society and country if men and women are not holding hands in partnership towards creating more equality,鈥� Gregoire Trudeau said.
鈥淢en need to stand tall, raise their voices, treat women with love and respect.鈥�
She said she welcomes the comments on her Facebook and Instagram pages and sees them as 鈥渁 great debate,鈥� rather than harsh criticism.
鈥淭his is a type of authentic, real conversation filled with integrity and truths and sharing the facts,鈥� she said.
