Glamour’s Women of the Year list celebrates women in fashion, sports, business and social justice, and now, for the first time in its history, it will also honour a “Man of the Year.”
Bono, lead singer of rock band U2 and international aid advocate, will have a seat next to a handful of successful women at the November 14 ceremony in Los Angeles.
Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive said awarding a man has been a topic of debate for years: “We’ve talked for years about whether to honour a man at Women of the Year and we’ve always kind of put the kibosh on it. You know, men get a lot of awards and aren’t exactly hurting in the celebration and honours department.”
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Ultimately, the magazine opted to get with the times — so to speak. “But it started to seem that that might be an outdated way of looking at things and there are so many men who really are doing wonderful things for women these days,” says Leive. “Some men get it and Bono is one of those guys.”
The U2 frontman seemed to be an appropriate choice for the magazine, after he launched a movement advocating for women and girls in extreme poverty called Poverty is Sexist through his advocacy group ONE.
“Men can be a bit thick. And I include myself,” said Bono. “Honestly, things that ought to be obvious sometimes are not. We can do much more than we think we can. Leaders are accountable to all of us. If they don’t support women and girls, vote them out of office. To quote Nelson Mandela, ‘It always seems impossible – until it’s done.'”
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Bono, 56, said in a statement on Tuesday: “We’re largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions.”
He’s on a list that also includes Gwen Stefani, actress and campaigner Zendaya and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.
The magazine’s decision has been heavily criticized on social media.
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CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, who wrote an article in praise of her friend Bono for the magazine, supports Glamour‘s decision.
She wrote: “I’m on Glamour’s side: I think Bono is the perfect choice for this first-time honour because, now 56, he’s been trying to do good for as long as he’s been making music… by establishing Poverty Is Sexist, Bono is making it clear that powerful men can, and should, take on these deep-rooted issues.”
Glamour also published a quote from 2013 Woman of the Year and respected philanthropist, Melinda Gates.
“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,” Gates said.
Other 2016 Women of the Year include Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi and Alicia Garza, the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.
With files from ET Canada
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