A Woman of the Year on Glamour ‘s 2106 list is even more controversial than it was last year. U2’s Bono, known for his activist tendencies, has been included on the list of the most influential women for the past year, and a lot of people aren’t cool with it.
Bono made Glamour’s Women of the Year list, and he’ll be celebrating — with or without you https://t.co/BYcGlHeZYl pic.twitter.com/zRe7LiNZ1r
— CNN (@CNN) November 2, 2016
Even Bono wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do.
“I’m sure I don’t deserve it. But I’m grateful for this award as a chance to say the battle for gender equality can’t be won unless men lead it along with women. We’re largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions.”
Glamour naming Bono “Woman of the Year” is just another example of a man getting a job despite there being women more qualified to do it.
— OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) November 2, 2016
This follows the reveal last year that Caitlyn Jenner , who had begun undergoing gender reassignment surgery after eschewing the name Bruce, had won. Considering that she had been born a male, and won Olympic fame while embracing the gender, there were some real questions on most people’s minds.
#Bono woman of the year & WonderWoman as UN Ambassador – if only we had real life women to look up to https://t.co/GJwaqCWGEg
— Tash Walker (@maudeandtrevor) November 2, 2016
There has been a push in Hollywood recently to swap major franchise casting from dominantly male ( Ghostbusters ) to entirely female ( Ocean’s Eight ), and similar reactions have taken place. The battle of the genders has raged for decades, but it wasn’t until Jennifer Lawrence came forward with an open letter on the gender gap that the world was forced to acknowledge it.
There are few enough things rich, white, men need more of. Awards certainly isn’t one of those things. ? https://t.co/sYD8GBb0Pd
— Brian Nisbet (@natural20) November 2, 2016
The fight for equality has been extremely polarizing, with Emma Watson’s #HeForShe campaign being among the least exclusive. The way she’d explained it, feminism is not about hating men, but including them in the fight for women’s rights.
Excluding men from being ‘Woman of the Year’ is officially ‘outdated’, folks https://t.co/C4NDPNnzme
— Meghan Murphy (@MeghanEMurphy) November 1, 2016
U2’s Bono has been doing something similar with his One campaign, named after the band’s hit single. He has been fighting for the rights of women and girls across the world, making him one of the greatest examples of male-led feminism. This is why Glamour named him among the Women of the Year in 2016, according to CNN .
Bono’s “Woman of the Year” award reminds me of this. I can’t see it any other way. #Bono #GlamourWOTY #ParksAndRec pic.twitter.com/hs9EGbh8vc
— Jen Keane (@zenbuffy) November 2, 2016
Glamour offered a note explaining their reasons.
“These days most women want men – no, need men – in our tribe. … When the president declared himself a feminist, when super-cool actors line up to endorse the United Nations’ #HeForShe campaign, when a major male rock star who could do anything at all with his life decides to focus on the rights of women and girls worldwide – well, all that’s worth celebrating. We’re proud to name that rock star, Bono, our first Man of the Year.”
Are you kidding me, @glamourmag ? You couldn’t think of one more woman? https://t.co/Yo8sWVoFhW
— Aunt Piddy (@Starchasm) November 1, 2016
Comedian Travon Free summed up why Glamour ‘s decision to name Bono with such an award was hypocritical, according to BBC .
Does Glamour Magazine know giving Bono the “Woman of the year” award for trying to undo patriarchy undercuts the entire point of the award?
— Travon Free (@Travon) November 1, 2016
There are clearly solid arguments for both sides, but the women’s magazine seems to be ignoring the opposing views for a second year in a row.
It almost makes the public wonder just how far they’re willing to go with it in the following years.
[Featured Image by 360b/Shutterstock.com]
