Social media backlash on comments relating to the Women’s March has prompted some Albertans to view the global event through a political lens.
Sonia Kont, a 2012 Cochrane High alumna and chair of communications for the United Conservative Party (UCP) board, came under fire last week when a personal tweet she sent out resulted in criticism from Status of Women Minister Stephanie McLean.
“Unpopular opinion: these ideological marches like the one in Washington does not empower women. Last time I checked, we all had the same rights in society,” reads the Jan. 20 tweet from @soniakont, following the Calgary Women’s March.
McLean responded that the UCP “ridiculed the strength of women marching together in solidarity and using their voices fighting for equality” and furthered her support for the march through comments on the gender pay gap and the high rates of domestic violence faced by women.
Following the politicizing banter, Kont finds herself questioning the inclusivity of the march that mobilized worldwide – including at least 38 communities in Canada.
“If this march is about women empowerment then it should include everybody and be inclusive ... it’s just concerning because we live in a democratic society,” she said, with reference to the shunning of pro-life and anti-abortion groups from some of the marches.
As a conservative woman, Kont said she has not felt welcomed. She takes issue with the ideology behind the march and “does not see the value in Canada of protesting a sitting president in the U.S.” – with reference to the roots of the march, following the election of President Trump.
“Conservative women are not welcomed at women marches, that is not a secret. If these women marches were truly non-partisan and about women empowerment, everyone would be welcomed.”
“When these march organizers and supporters shun conservative women, they lose their credibility. I’ll join a march when they remove the politics and truly appreciate diversity. No one has a monopoly over women issues.”
She is also disappointed that nothing was said of the issues faced by women in the Middle East, including the sensitive hijab issue.
Kont immigrated to Canada with her family at the age of 10. She is Kurdish and hails from East Turkey.
“We are fortunate to have the same rights as men and women in Canada – why don’t we set the bar high … why are we silent about what’s happening around the world?” she said.
Since the Twitter war ensued, where political players from both sides ventured their support or distaste of both Kont and McLean’s comments, Kont said she has undergone “a lot of personal attacks” but is taking it as an opportunity to advocate for her right to express her personal opinion and to encourage critical thinking.
She also took considerable issue with Calgary-North West NDP MLA Sandra Jansen’s attribution of her personal tweet as a blanket viewpoint of “conservative women” followed with the hashtag #BackToTheKitchen – which she found personally offensive.
UCP leader Jason Kenney tweeted that he was “proud to have so many outspoken women as members.”
Banff-Cochrane NDP MLA Cam Westhead took to social media to condemn Kont for her social media comments, posting in the popular Cochrane Facebook group Cochrane Rants and Raves: “Rant: UCP communications chair questioning the need for Women’s Marches” – which resulted in a range of public commentary.
Westhead told the Cochrane Eagle he felt Kont’s comments were “tone-deaf,” that “women’s rights are human rights” and that he is proud to “work alongside a lot of great women.”
Coun. Morgan Nagel was quick to come to Kont’s defence on the social media thread.
“I was proud to see Sonia stand up for her own beliefs,” said Nagel, expressing his distaste for the level of what he described as intolerance displayed toward Kont on social media.
