Emma Watson's Speech On Gender Equality

In her speech ‘Gender Equality is your issue too’, Emma Watson addresses her ideas on feminism and gender equality by exercising her platform as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and acclaimed British thespian to lead advocates and set a precedent for future generations on a global scale. As a result of the fame she has attained from her work, the natural consequence of the media exploiting her fame, allowed her to multiply the voices of less recognised women or men tenfold, and be the leader around which they are able to unify themselves. Her ideas on feminism and gender equality entail subjects such as the meaning of identifying as a modern feminist, the role of men and their inevitable efforts to achieve equality and the multitude of wealthy

To allow men to feel invited to participate in abolishing gender inequality, but to classify them as feminists only represents the work of women, suggesting that they alone are responsible for the progression of gender equality, discrediting men for their work. Furthermore, Emma Watson mentions that the word has translated from defining the equality of sexes to become synonymous with misandry, making it an unpopular word and hence, uncommon obligation in the 21st century. In her speech, she refers to the influencers and mentors who assessed her as equal to her male counterparts and recognises them ‘inadvertent feminists’. These ‘inadvertent feminists’ whose work was not publicly noticed nor praised, exemplified the doctrines of feminism yet they didn’t identify themselves as such, which leads to the theory that it not the commitment required of a feminist that challenges society the most, but the fear to be addressed as one. For women, feminism is tabooed with the concept of misandry and is observed as aggressive, isolating and unattractive role while for men, it implies weakness and vulnerability. Therefore, Emma Watson urges people that it is not the word but the action behind it, that using the term ‘feminist’ would not evoke an empowering movement of people, both male and

She expresses these ideas by compelling others to be conscious of the fact that gender equality requires men and their role in this universal campaign because it is essential for both genders to redress an issue which encumbers them equally, resolving to immediately inviting men to advocate for their own rights as well as the rights of women, and further extending the invitation throughout the duration of her speech. Another idea that she draws significance to is the role of feminists, specifically detailing the ambition behind their efforts because the word feminist segregates women and excludes the role she expects men to portray. This idea of both men and women asserting the need for gender equality is presented by changing the word used to describe an advocate of gender equality so that it equally represents the work of both genders. Emma Watson implies that the consequences of the current state of gender inequality are so extensive that no singly nation has yet achieved all, if any criteria in the grand scheme of gender equality. She justifies this with a multitude of statistics and advances to disclose the fact that no country will achieve total gender equality for decades or perhaps even centuries to come. Overall, Emma