Emma Watson has come a long way since her days as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter. Watson spoke as the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and gave a powerful and thought-provoking speech for the “HeForShe” campaign.
In her speech, Watson fought for gender equality trying to remove the stereotype that women can’t be strong and men can’t be sensitive. This speech has already gone viral, with milions of views from around the world and for good reason. Watson hopes to make the “Us vs. Them” mentality disappear, making this a relevant issue among both females and males.
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Some of the most moving parts of her speech are featured below, along with a video of this history-making speech.
“I decided I was a feminist and this seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive.”
“Why is the word such an uncomfortable one? I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights.”
“Men—I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.”
“We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes but I can see that that they are and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence.”
“I want men to take up this mantle. So their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too—reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and in doing so be a more true and complete version of themselves.”
Check out her speech below.
