New Canadian PM says society must stand up to Gamergate

Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has proudly declared himself a feminist and cited Gamergate as an example of a movement that clearly” must be stood up to.

Yes, Yes. I am a feminist. Proud to be a feminist,” he said in an unbroadcast section of a recent TV interview, as reported by Canada’s The Star. My mom raised me to be a feminist. My father raised me, he was a different generation but he raised me to respect and defend everyone’s rights, and I deeply grounded my own identity in that, and I am proud to say that I am a feminist.

The things we see online, whether it is issues like Gamergate or video games misogyny in popular culture, it is something that we need to stand clearly against.”

In the same interview Trudeau blamed many arms of the media for contributing to society’s inherent misogyny.

I think there’s probably an awful lot of factors that come together to shape societal behaviours,” he added. Certain types of music — you know, there’s an awful lot of misogyny in certain types of music, there’s issues around pornography and its prevalence now and its accessibility.”

Trudeau subsequently found himself embroiled in a bit of an uproar when some onlookers felt his comments – which went on to mention absentee fathers – drew about racial stereotypes about black communities.

The PM has denied the claims, with a spokesperson adding: As leaders, as parents, as community leaders, we need to make sure we are combating misogyny in all its forms wherever it’s found, whether fashion magazines or popular music or popular culture. We all have to work together.”

43-year-old Justin Trudeau was earlier this week elected as Canada’s new Prime Minister, bringing about the Liberal Party’s return to power in the country at the expense of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

He’s the son of former Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau and has promised not only to raise taxes for the wealthy, but also to legalise marijuana .