
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau calls on men to join hands in honour of International Women's Day
By Sarah Walker
As the world prepares to mark International Women's Day on Wednesday, March 8, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has taken to Instagram to call on her followers to "ignite change."
In the short and sweet post, the wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says she wants to start a photo movement that showcases the men who support feminism.
"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 wrote. "Take a picture holding hands with your male ally & share it on social media using the hashtag #TomorrowInHand. Together, we can create a movement that inspires more men to join the fight to build a better tomorrow with equal rights & opportunities for everyone… because #EqualityMatters."
The caption was featured alongside a wintery image of the 41-year-old posing hand-in-hand with her husband, who is an open and ardent feminist.
As a gender equality activist, the mom to three has spoken candidly about the need for men and women to work together to empower young girls.
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Speaking at a screening of the documentary Dream, Girl in November, she noted "In the quest for more equality in a society, when we think that men aren't part of the solution, we're truly wrong... We're all winners when we unite for more equality."
Sophie reiterated those thoughts last year on a trip to Cuba when she said, "Our boys need to look up to older people around them, especially male figures, to be able to express their full person and potential, but that is only possible if they are raised in a culture that celebrates men and women with the same equal rights, freedoms and respect."
For his part, in early 2016 Justin told the United Nations, "I'm going to keep saying loud and clearly that I am a feminist until it is met with a shrug."
Around the same time he also posted a video to Snapchat encouraging boys to do more to support women. "There's lots of things you can do to be a better feminist as a man but here's a simple one: don't interrupt women, and notice every time women get interrupted in conversation," he said.