Earlier this summer, Emma Watson was named a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador just a couple months after graduating from Brown University. Watson's intelligence and drive was evident this past weekend with a memorable speech.
Watson gave a passionate speech on feminism and gender at the U.N. Headquarters in New York to launch the "HeForShe" campaign which aims to galvanize men and boys as advocates for ending the inequalities that women and girls face globally. Watson's speech asked for male participation but also aimed to correct the misconceptions of feminism.
"The more I've spoken about feminism, the more I have realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synomous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop," Watson said.
She defined feminism as the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. She chronicled her time being called "bossy" while her male friends weren't when she was eight, then being sexualized by media outlets as a teenager, followed by her girlfriends dropping out of sports because they didn't want to appear "muscley," and her male friends shying away from expressing their feelings. After all this, she said she decided that she was a feminist.
"I decided that I was a feminist. This seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists. Apparently, [women’s expression is] seen as too strong, too aggressive, anti-men, unattractive," she said.
She said some of her top priorities are to be paid the same as men and to take control of her body.
"I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that affect my life. I think it is right that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men," said Watson. But, she said, these rights don't often come to fruition.
Watson realized that her position as "the girl from Harry Potter" might hurt her chances of making a difference with this speech. But she candidly addressed that concern.
"You might think: who is this Harry Potter girl? What is she doing at the UN? I’ve been asking myself at the same thing. All I know is that I care about this problem and I want to make this better. And having seen what I’ve seen and given the chance, I feel my responsibility to say something."
Watson received a standing ovation.
Watch the video below and learn more about the "HeForShe" campaign here: