London Mayor Boris Johnson Jokes That Women Only Go To University To Find A Husband

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has been accused of sexism after he joked that female students “have got to find men to marry” when they’re at university.

His remarked came during an event in Malaysia, and he was sat alongside their prime minister, Najib Razark, when he made the comment.

Mr Johnson made the comments during the launch of the World Islamic Economic Forum, which was held last week, and an insider added that his words were “completely light-hearted” and were “misconstrued.”

Mr. Razak had originally been asked about the role of women in Islamic societies, to which he responded, “Before coming here, my officials have told me that the latest university intake in Malaysia, a Muslim country, 68 percent will be women entering our universities.”

The Mayor of London then decided to add his own quip, joking that the female students that Mr Razak had just mentioned had “to find men to marry.”

Labour’s Shadow Equality Minister, Kate Green, MP, hasn’t seen the funny side though and has called on Mr Johnson to apologise.

She stated, “Boris Johnson may think his buffoonery allows him to get away with his outdate opinions but this isn’t funny. These comments are insulting to the women across the country and across the world who have gone to university, worked hard and used their talents to get on. He should apologise.”

Meanwhile, The Everyday Sexism campaign group has joined Kate Green in her protests, calling Mr. Johnson’s thoughts “pathetically archaic, unacceptably sexist and hopelessly out of touch.”

However a source told The Daily Telegraph, that Mr. Johnson’s comments were “off the cuff” and “clearly intended as a joke.” They then added, “He does not, of course, think that at all. It was completely light-hearted. It has been misconstrued.”

Do you think that Boris Johnson should apologise for his sexist gaffe?

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