This past weekend actress Emma Watson delivered a speech at the UN’s headquarters in New York that was so stirring and passionate it evoked a worldwide response. Watson, a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador, spoke on behalf of a new campaign called “HeForShe” which calls upon men and boys on a global scale to become advocates for gender equality. The actress opened up her speech by acknowledging that the term “feminist” has managed to garner a bad reputation over the past decades and that it has to end. She said:
“The more I’ve spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop. For the record, Feminism by definition is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.”
This powerful statement was only the beginning of a speech that brought a new perspective on feminism and gender equality. Watson continued her speech by speaking about the injustices that she, personally, has witnessed towards women. She advocated for rights such as equal pay, ownership over one’s own body, and the firm belief that women should be treated with same respect, socially, as men. While this subject has been spoken of and fought for countless times, Watson brought forward a new element to feminism. An element that caused her speech to be described in the media as “game-changing.”
“In 1997, Hilary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women’s rights. Sadly, many of the things that she wanted to change are still true today. But what stood out for me the most was that less than 30% of the audience were male. How can we effect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcomed to participate in the conversation. Men, I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.”
Watson went on to discuss the gender roles and stereotypes that men are required to fulfill from birth. She made the notion that it is not until we free men of these stereotypes that “things will change for women as a natural consequence”. Both sexes should be free to be whomever the want to be without the fear of not fulfilling certain roles predetermined by society. Watson said at one point during her speech that, “No country in the world can yet say that they have achieved gender equality.” The year is 2014 and this is a scary thought for a world that we believe has come so far. Is this something that we, as men and women, are comfortable accepting?