The leader of a prominent political party in Quebec is under fire after sending out a tweet that some are saying was sexist.
Francois Legault, leader of the recently formed CAQ (Coalition Avenir Québec), tweeted that “girls attach less importance to pay than boys” on Tuesday evening,
His comment came in response to a question triggered by an earlier statement that boys are telling him they would be more likely to study to become a teacher if the pay were higher. Legault is suggesting an increase in teachers' salaries in exchange for an increase in qualifications.
Vincent Marissal, a reporter for La Presse, asked Legault whether that meant girls become teachers because they're born expecting less. Legault's response, that girls simply don't care as much about salaries as boys, has sparked a Twitter firestorm.
Legault told The Huffington Post Quebec on Wednesday that he stands behind his comments and tweeted a link to an OECD study on gender equality that he says supports his argument.
The CAQ's leader is very active on Twitter and touts the fact that he writes his own tweets. But with an election campaign looming in the province, Legault's prolific social media use could begin to hurt him.
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