UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson has released a short film, titled Hurdles, discussing the obstacles women have faced in the past and those they are still striving to overcome today. Watson narrates the two-minute production, which includes footage from the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo featuring female athletes.
Excited to show you this small film I helped make. Hope it gets you going! #Hurdles #GenderEqualityTogether @TheGlobalGoals #Goal5 pic.twitter.com/xpEDoXp8ot
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) September 24, 2016
“We’ve sacrificed, fought, competed, succeeded, been knocked back, and succeeded again,” Watson says inspiringly. The film lists global historic accomplishments for women in politics, sport and education, while noting that we still have a long way to go.
Watson’s fight against gender inequality is empowering for young girls and women across the world, but it hasn’t gone unnoticed by critics. Most recently, Ron Liddle, a columnist for The Sun, suggested that instead of addressing the United Nations General Assembly about gender equality and sexual assault, Watson (or Hermione Granger, as he refers to her) should stick to “telling them all the rules of quidditch or how to turn someone into a frog.”
Offered without comment – The Sun’s response to Emma Watson addressing the UN about gender equality and sexual assault pic.twitter.com/KQ0MPSJGbL
— Louise Ridley (@LouiseRidley) September 23, 2016
We’re fairly sure Liddle is one of those unfortunate hurdles that we have to jump over.