This House of Commons committee meeting on the status of women studied anti-feminist ideology and its impact on youth mental health. Appearing as witnesses were Dan Irving, an associate professor at Carleton University; Jake Stika, executive director of Next Gen Men; Jennifer Quaglietta, CEO of Professional Engineers Ontario; Lisa Pigeau, director of intergovernmental relations for Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak; and Jean-Michaël Dubé-Rousseau, executive director of Partage au Masculin.
Dan Irving argued that anti-feminist backlash follows gains by intersectional feminist movements, such as Idle No More and the passage of Bill C-16, and that it targets trans and non-binary youth by sending messages that they are not real, producing shame and barriers to education. He recommended funding for arts and music programs as a way to combat isolation and provide alternative outlets for young men, noting that cuts to these programs are harmful.
Jake Stika described how anti-feminist ideology targets boys by convincing them they are inadequate, then offering solutions that breed misogyny, and he emphasized that this starts with teaching boys to hate the feminine in themselves. He called for media literacy to help youth recognize when inadequacy is sold as a business model, education that challenges the equation of femininity with weakness, and positive models of masculinity that do not require putting others down.
Jennifer Quaglietta noted that progress toward gender parity in engineering is slow, with women making up only 13% of licensed engineers in Canada, and that barriers include lack of technical mentors and support. She recommended that employers ensure women have access to role models and technical work experience, and that all stakeholders encourage girls to pursue STEM fields, particularly by reminding them they can succeed.
Lisa Pigeau stated that anti-feminist ideology tells women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people to expect less, and that for Métis women, this echoes colonial systems that imposed strict gender roles and silenced women. She called for a stronger online reporting system, quicker responses from platforms, and funding for indigenous women’s organizations to provide digital safety supports, and emphasized the need for Métis-specific disaggregated data to understand community challenges.
Jean-Michaël Dubé-Rousseau argued that toxic masculinity influencers lure young men with promises of success and attractiveness, then push them deeper into hate speech, and that these narratives are like a cult from which it is hard to extract individuals. He recommended creating counter-narratives in schools and community spaces, providing young men with spaces to express emotions, and continuing to promote positive male role models who show that talking about emotions is a strength.
The committee also debated a motion expressing disappointment with the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Justice for not appearing during the study. Liberal members argued the ministers had not refused but were working on scheduling, and proposed amendments to remove language about refusal and the number of invitations. After discussion, the committee adjourned debate on the motion.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.