During Glamour magazine's awarding of its 2016 Women of the Year, the phrase "one of these is not like the others" seemed to apply. Bono, singer-songwriter and philanthropist (two of the many hats he wears) was included in the lineup besides Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and ISIS survivor Nadia Murad, among others. Bono's charities and passion for gender equality were recognized, as well as his new campaign "Poverty is Sexist," which is "aimed at helping the world's poorest women."
He humbly accepted the award, presented to him by comedienne Amy Poehler, stating that "I know how ridiculous it is for me to be on this stage." However, his speech continued with comments about how equality between men and women starts with both sexes unifying their common beliefs instead of dividing them. "We're largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions," he declared.
For 26 years, Glamour declined previous male nominations, however, Bono's constant advocating for women's rights and environmental issues made him the exception. According to NPR, the magazine's award going to a man was inspired by other "women-friendly actions" of other men, such as President Obama's statement about being a feminist himself. The Internet was obviously torn between supporting Glamour's decision to award a male because of the traditional nature of the women-only lineup. The positive aspect of this, however, seemed to overshadow the negative sentiments because of Bono's statement about how men are an influential part of establishing equality for women. It challenged the way that people think about gender-inclusive awards and organizations. If society truly wants equality, why have gender-specific groups being strictly enforced?
Bono's speech can be viewed here.
No comments:
Post a Comment