TOO HOT TO PRINT
Cabinet minister accuses newspaper of promoting sexual violence against women in ad for local food column
Paula Biggar could use some serious social media training.
P.E.I.’s minister of transportation and minister responsible for the status of women has become known for her caustic tweets and Facebook posts, and on Tuesday she took aim at The Guardian on Facebook, accusing the paper of objectifying a female food columnist.
“As minister responsible for the Status of Women for P.E.I. I must comment that I am concerned that the Guardian of P.E.I. has resorted to a “sex sells” type of advertising with this banner on the front page of today’s May 30th edition,” Biggar wrote Tuesday morning.
She included a photo of the ad, which promotes P.E.I. chef Ilona Daniel’s monthly food column in The Guardian, which is called “Food Seductress.” The ad includes a photo of the stunning Daniel leaning in to her kitchen counter, with the tag line, “Do you want to be seduced?”
“With all the work and education being done by women’s organizations to prevent sexual violence against women and girls I am saddened by this ad and that the publishers would not have had second thoughts before printing. I offer any opportunity to meet with the new owner of this paper to discuss the need for more sensitivity,” Biggar said in her Facebook post.
First of all, some clarification is required.
Daniel has been a columnist for The Guardian for a year and this exact ad has run intermittently for the last year, so it’s not new.
Secondly, it is Daniel herself who identifies as the Island’s “food seductress.” She had a column in The Guardian’s former G! Magazine for several years in which she also used this moniker. She even includes it in her Twitter bio. It’s part of her personal brand.
She explained to me that anyone who follows her knows she’s not selling sex but rather trying to enhance people’s relationship with food in a positive and fun way.
It also should be noted that Daniel approved all advertising related to her column in The Guardian and at no time has raised concern about being objectified.
If Biggar, as status of women minister, was truly concerned about The Guardian’s ad campaign and wanted to speak with the former or new owners to “discuss the need for more sensitivity,” why did she not pick up the phone to register these concerns? No calls were made. Instead, Biggar – a minister of the Crown – used her social media account to accuse a local business of promoting sexual violence against women. It’s a powerful charge and one that is 100 per cent false.
The reality is, Biggar’s misinformed attempt to publicly shame The Guardian for supposedly being sexist did more to sexualize Daniel’s food column than anything The Guardian has done.
And young women in P.E.I. are making sure the status of women minister knows it.
Alicia Marie Denison was among several women who commented on Biggar’s post, saying it was akin to “calling into question Chef Ilona’s personal agency.”
“Instead of this performative allyship, I suggest, Minister Biggar, that you talk and connect with the women working in our culinary industry. Taking a look at sexism and the circumvention of labour laws would be a good place to start.”
That sounds like a far more productive use of time for the minister responsible for the status of women than spending her day on Facebook, defending her misinformed attack on The Guardian.
And as for a “need for more sensitivity,” I would suggest the minister might perhaps take her own advice regarding her use of social media.
Earlier this month, she was taken to task in the legislature over some tweets in which she said she would “get even” with Opposition MLA Matthew MacKay for raising concerns about expropriation of land for the Cornwall bypass. Others have shared screenshots with me of their own testy exchanges with Biggar on Twitter and Facebook.
I am reminded of some advice I read from a social media expert a few years ago that I will respectfully pass on to Minister Biggar: you are always one tweet away from being fired.