The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to study the rise of antifeminism. Witnesses included Tristan Boursier, Mylène de Repentigny-Corbeil, Dina Haddish, Francis Dupuis-Déri, Kyle Ganson, and Pascal Vaillancourt.
Tristan Boursier, a Doctor of Political Science, defined antifeminism as a political ideology that views gender inequality as natural and desirable, not merely sexism. He focused on contemporary digital manifestations, particularly masculinist influencers who monetize content by promoting a narrative that feminism has caused a masculinity crisis, and noted a convergence of antifeminism with far-right ideologies. He recommended holding digital platforms accountable through legal mechanisms, citing the European Union's Digital Services Act as a model.
Mylène de Repentigny-Corbeil, Executive Director of Les 3 sex*, described the "manosphere" as a well-organized online ecosystem that normalizes control and violence against women, citing alarming statistics on online harassment and exposure of youth to sexist content. She argued that prevention and education work, but community organizations are underfunded and cannot keep pace with rising demand, and called for stable, predictable federal funding for these efforts.
Dina Haddish, Members' Coordinator for the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, testified that antifeminist ideology creates a chilling effect on survivors of sexual violence, reducing disclosure and access to justice. She noted that legal and administrative processes are being weaponized to silence survivors and service providers, and that Indigenous, racialized, and queer survivors face compounded barriers. She recommended stable federal funding for sexual assault centres, stronger protections against legal intimidation, and implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action.
Francis Dupuis-Déri, a Full Professor at Université du Québec à Montréal, argued that the "crisis of masculinity" narrative is a myth that has persisted for centuries and is used to blame women for men's problems. He warned that political leaders using anti-woke rhetoric are deliberately appealing to angry young men, and cited recent anti-feminist attacks in Ontario as extreme outcomes. He disagreed with the government's celebration of International Men's Day, calling it a trap that validates masculinist rhetoric.
Kyle Ganson, an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, focused on how problematic masculine norms turn the male body into a social project of power and dominance, supercharged by online platforms. He noted that 25% of boys and men engage in muscle-building behaviours, linked to anxiety, violence, and anti-feminist beliefs. He recommended reframing masculinity as positive and inclusive, funding positive male communities, destigmatizing mental health support, promoting media literacy, and regulating online platforms to eliminate algorithmic rabbit holes.
Pascal Vaillancourt, Director General of Interligne, reported a sharp increase in distress among LGBTQ+ people, with calls about discrimination up 308% and violence up 110%. He stated that antifeminist ideology fuels homophobia and transphobia by using "protect women" rhetoric to exclude trans women, and that hateful comments in schools are becoming normalized. He recommended robust funding for community resources and prevention campaigns to support impacted communities.
The committee briefly discussed scheduling amendments for Bill C-225, with a proposal to move the deadline for amendments to February 20 or 23 to expedite the process, though no final decision was recorded.
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