U2 front man, human-rights advocate and tinted sunglasses aficionado Bono has made Glamour’s annual Women of the Year list. Predictably, the nod hasn’t gone down all that well…
Glamour announced the rock icon was being honoured as the first-ever Man of the Year for his work with charity Poverty is Sexist and also championing the One Campaign – an advocacy organisation of 7 million people taking action to end extreme poverty & preventable disease, particularly in Africa.
Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour wrote a feature about Bono for Glamour where she says the performer told her upon learning he’d been nominated he asked his wife, “did she think I deserved it?” Bono says she told him she wasn’t sure.
Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson.
And plenty of other people aren’t sure Bono should be getting the award either.
Online the news has been met with mixed reviews and some have taken to Twitter to mostly point out how shocked they are a man is getting an award that should be reserved for women.
Comedian Travon Free tweeted: “Does Glamour Magazine know giving Bono the “Woman of the year” award for trying to undo patriarchy undercuts the entire point of the award?”
While another user quipped: “It’s so important that our daughters understand they can grow up to be Bono.”
But while the critics are out there, the Irish singer does have some powerful feminist philanthropic champions in his corner.
Melinda Gates, who was Glamour’s 2013 Woman of the Year, told the glossy of Bono’s recognition:
“He’s one of the most outspoken and effective advocates for women and girls I know.… As an activist, he’s using those skills to get the world talking about the fact that ending extreme poverty begins with empowering women and girls.”
Bill Gates and Melinda Gates pose for a photo with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations in 2015.
Lupita Nyong’o, Bono and the cast of Broadway’s ‘Eclipsed’ onstage as Bono visits ‘Eclipsed’ to launch a dedication series in honour of abducted Chibok Girls of Northern Nigeriaon.
And Bono himself has a pretty good response to the nod – whether he deserves it or not. The 56-year-old father-of-four told Amanpour the award was humbling and will further drive him to rally around causes that push for equality.
“I’m sure I don’t deserve it,” he said. “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.”
Bono will be presented with his award at a November 14 ceremony celebrating the year in women’s achievements, alongside the 2016 Women of the Year winners: Olympic gymnast Simone Biles; Black Lives Matter founders Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi; Stanford sexual assault survivor Emily Doe; model and body activist Ashley Graham; International Monetary Fund Managing Director and Lifetime Achievement winner Christine Lagarde; anti-ISIS activist Nadia Murad; designer Miuccia Prada; singer and style icon Gwen Stefani; and actress and activist Zendaya.
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