Sometimes you can carry criticism too far

KAMLOOPS — Oh, c’mon. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau can’t post a picture of herself holding hands with her husband without being criticized?

The wife of the prime minister got a lot of brickbats on International Women’s Day yesterday for the photo, and her accompanying comment that said, “This week, as we mark International Women’s Day, let’s 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’t afraid to speak up in front of others. “

She was blasted on social media for supposedly taking the focus of the day off women. “In case you missed it, Sophie, this is International Women’s Day,” one critic posted on Facebook in a comment summing up much of the reaction. “You don’t have to turn everything into a way to promote your husband. Shameful!”

Well, isn’t International Women’s Day supposed to be about inclusion, and about men and women working together to make sure women are treated as equals in all aspects of life?

Grégoire had her supporters, mind you. As one put it on Grégoire’s Facebook page, “Men have always been necessary for women’s rights.”

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And another wrote, “Thank you for your message of equality, Sophie. Women don’t have to be celebrated at the expense of men. Today we should all thank and celebrate the strong women who shape our lives and as strong, secure women, we can also take the opportunity to thank the good, kind men in our lives who have loved us and supported us in finding ourselves.”

And that husband of hers that so many thought should be kept out of the picture yesterday? Well, he was announcing $650 million for reproductive health and rights, and making a speech saying unsafe abortions and lack of choices in reproductive health put too many women and girls at risk. And talking to young women from across the country who came to sit in the House of Commons to mark the day.

The International Women’s Day website speaks of “women, men and non-binary people joining forces” to Be Bold For Change — this year’s theme.

Both Trudeaus reinforced that objective on Wednesday.