A speech that woke up the world
For those of you who haven’t heard, Emma Watson delivered a pretty epic speech at the UN last week addressing gender equality issues and the misconceptions of feminism. After being appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN, the Harry Potter star helped launch the HeForShe campaign and was met with a standing ovation and thunderous applause. While it’s obvious that Watson’s fame would generate ample attention for the cause, it was her passionate and knowledgeable speech that really made an impact.
The first of many important things Watson talked about was how the definition of feminism has trailed off-course and become synonymous with “man-hating.” As Watson points out, feminism is, by definition, the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Why should a woman be labeled as too aggressive for wanting to be a manager when a man wouldn’t? Why is it not right that men and women be paid the same wage for the same job? Simply put, in order to progress, we have to remember that feminism is strictly about equality and not superiority.
One of the things that made Watson’s speech particularly unique was the way she invited men to share responsibility in the fight for gender equality. While many of us might think equality is a strictly female issue, Watson touched on how that is not the case. She said:
“Men, I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too. Because to date, I’ve seen my father’s role as a parent being valued less by society despite my needing his presence, as a child, as much as my mother’s. I’ve seen young men suffering from mental illness, unable to ask for help, for fear it would make them less of a man.”
For all the possible limitations that still exist for women today, there are also a multitude of restrictions and ideas on what men should be and how the perception of “being a man” can be a limiting one. The idea of both genders participating in the battle of equality is not only a logical concept, but one that will also naturally benefit us all. Watson addressed this in her speech, saying:
“We don’t want to talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes but I can see that they are. When they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence. If men don’t have to be aggressive, women won’t be compelled to be submissive. If men don’t need to control, women won’t have to be controlled.”
Whether or not you consider yourself to be a feminist or a crusader of equality, there is much to be taken away from Watson’s speech. It is the idea that unity is paramount, and equality is freeing. If you want to help make a change but have doubts about your ability to make an impact, Watson posed a powerful question at the end of her speech addressing those concerns. She asks:
“If not me, who? If not now, when?”