In a speech Vanity Fair called “game-changing,” Harry Potter star Emma Watson told the U.N. this weekend that equating feminism with being anti-men "has got to stop," saying that feminism is not "man-hating" and calling for women's rights to earn the same as men, make decisions about their own bodies, and put women who can promote their interests in positions of power.
Watson was named a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador earlier this summer and is now working with the “HeForShe” campaign, which is attempting to battle the notion that feminism is anti-male by “galvanizing” the support of one billion men and boys to be advocates for ending gender inequalities and violence against women. In her remarks, which were met with thunderous applause, Watson referenced her own personal encounters with sexism and decision early on to embrace feminism:
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, isolating, anti-men, unattractive even.
Why has the word become such an uncomfortable one? I’m from Britain and 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. [Loud applause.] 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.
After saying that "no country in the world can dare say they've achieved gender equality," Watson extended a "formal invention" to men to feel free to be “sensitive”—to be less aggressive, less controlling—to allow women to have a more equal role in society:
When they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence. If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t need to control, women won’t have to be controlled. Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong.
She also deliberately highlighted what she knew would be a possible mark against her credentials, her type-casting as the girl from Harry Potter:
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. Edmund Burke said all that is need for the forces of evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing
As if to illustrate her point about the negative potential of her star status, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon made a Harry Potter joke, saying, “She’s been waving a magic wand. I hope you use your magic wand to end violence against women!”
This article has been modified.
