“The more I talk about feminism, the more I feel like it is often equated with male-hating,” the Hogwarts witch shared. “This misconception needs to stop. Feminism is defined as the equality of rights and opportunities for men and women.”
Emma Watson, who began her role as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador six months ago, gave a powerful speech on gender equality last week. It was also part of the launch of the HeForShe campaign, which aims to encourage men to be active agents in preventing violence against women.
She bluntly suggested: “How can we change the world if only half of the world feels welcome in this conversation about gender equality? Gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to extend a formal invitation to you. Gender equality is a men’s issue too.”
The English Literature graduate’s speech not only touched people’s hearts with its sincerity but also with its strong and powerful arguments:
“I know there are men who suffer from mental illness, but do not dare to seek help for fear of being considered weak. I also know there are men who always feel hurt and insecure because of the pressure of success. In fact, men currently do not have the benefits of gender equality.
Although the fact that men are framed by gender stereotypes is rarely mentioned, I can see that it still exists in our society. And once men can be freed from those impositions, equality will come to women.
This is the time for us to recognize that there will be areas of intersection in the definition of gender, because men and women are no longer two opposing concepts. People are only truly free when we stop confining ourselves to fixed definitions of gender and start being your true self. That is what HeForShe is all about: freedom.”