‘Sexist’ May bashed by critics for boy jobs remark

London, May 10: UK Prime Minister Theresa May faced flak on Wednesday for making what has been labelled as a “sexist” remark by social media users during a television interview in which she said her husband handled “traditional boy jobs” at home.

In her first TV interview alongside husband Philip May in which she sidelined Brexit to talk about family—and shoes—in a bid to soften her image ahead of the election, Theresa light-heartedly told the BBC that “there’s boy jobs and girls jobs”.

But many TV viewers took to social media soon after to express outrage. Asked by the host if his wife is a tough negotiator, Philip — a banker who rarely speaks in public — said, “Well, there’s give and take in every marriage. I get to decide when I take the bins out, not if I take them out.”

Theresa jumped in and said, “There’s boy jobs and girls jobs you see. I definitely do the bins.” Philip added, “I do the traditional boy jobs by and large.”

With old photographs and reflections on her “very happy childhood”, Theresa’s appearance was geared to show another side of a Premier who has drawn fire over her staid appearances on the campaign trail. Discussing countryside walks, cooking, and a love of buying shoes, such topics appeared aimed at cementing the PM as a likeable leader ahead of the June 8 vote. But soon Theresa faced an avalanche of criticism. Scottish Labour party leader Kezia Dugdale said online, “The Prime

Minister tells the country there are ‘boy jobs and girl jobs’ despair.”

A Twitter user said, “Can someone please tell Theresa May it’s 2017.” Another tweeted, “Sexism at it’s finest. Should the woman running our country be more supportive of gender equality?”

The couple, which were introduced at Oxford University during a student disco by mutual friend Benazir Bhutto— the would-be Pakistani Prime Minister—appeared together for the first time on the more informal The One Show as part of the general election campaign. Asked about his first impressions of the woman who would become his wife, Philip said, “What a lovely girl. And she still is.” When asked whether he “fancied her instantly”, Philip replied, “Absolutely, it was love at first sight.” — PTI, AFP