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UN Women's Global Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson just gave a talk to the UN at a special event for the HeForShe campaign at the United Nations' Headquarters in New York on September 20, 2014. This is a brilliant speech. Here it is:
Some important callouts:
"Men: Gender equality is your issue, too."
"For the record, feminism by definition is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes."
"It's about freedom. I want men to take up this mantle so their daughters, sisters, and mothers can be free from prejudice. But also so their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human, too, and in doing so, be a more true and complete version of themselves."
"How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?"
"Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals."
"If we stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer."
"In my nervousness for this speech and in my moments of doubt, I told myself firmly: If not me, who? If not now, when? If you have doubts when the opportunity is presented to you, I hope those words will be helpful."
"I invite you to step forward, to be seen. And ask yourself: If not me, who? If not now, when?"
GO EMMA WATSON.
Some important callouts:
"Men: Gender equality is your issue, too."
"For the record, feminism by definition is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes."
"It's about freedom. I want men to take up this mantle so their daughters, sisters, and mothers can be free from prejudice. But also so their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human, too, and in doing so, be a more true and complete version of themselves."
"How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?"
"Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals."
"If we stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer."
"In my nervousness for this speech and in my moments of doubt, I told myself firmly: If not me, who? If not now, when? If you have doubts when the opportunity is presented to you, I hope those words will be helpful."
"I invite you to step forward, to be seen. And ask yourself: If not me, who? If not now, when?"
GO EMMA WATSON.
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If everyone used their fame like this, the world would be a decent place to live in no time at all.
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By the way, if you didn't see my post on Facebookland, The Mens have come out against Emma Watson. Um, what? I'll save you the suffering, but it's the gamerworld attacking feminism because of Zoe Quinn... the "QUINNSPIRACY!!!" My response to that crap:
When I posted the wonderful Emma Watson video yesterday about feminism and the HeForShe campaign, I forgot to take into account the Feelingz of The Menz. Have you ever felt that a woman "had it coming" when dogpiled by jerks, or that the gaming world is suddenly overrun with "feminazis," people like John Scalzi with his "Easiest Player Setting" commentary, and women gamers (gasp!) who use the gaming metaphor to discuss privilege?
Because the voices of straight white male gamers have for years dominated the gaming industry, narrow-minded guys who fit that description have come to consider it their exclusive playpen. It's like Calvin and Hobbes' tree fort with the sign, "No Girls Allowed!" If a woman gets uppity and tells others about death and rape threats she receives when she speaks out, that's not okay! She should just take it or get out of our playpen! Hey, we treat each other like shit, too; she's just being a special snowflake! Blah blah blah.
What The Mens are feeling as an attack is simply their privilege being pointed out. Wouldn't you rather have women in your playground? How about guys who aren't all assholes? Think that might make it more fun? Because diversity is a lot more interesting than endless sameness.
Finally, anyone who uses "But she was a BAD GIRL WHO HAD SEX" as an example of the dangers of feminism (Zoe Quinn's name was evoked) needs to take a breath and get up to speed on what, exactly, equality means. Maybe The Mens hate guys who have the hawt sexxxings, too; that just makes you a hater, dude, someone who wants to control others. Did she physically threaten or rape some guy, or threaten to kill them? Does having more women in gaming harm the industry? Do you want to go back to a time when women and minorities should be seen only when and how you want but never heard from unless you demand it?
If that's what you think, no one's going to respect your opinion except assholes, and who cares what assholes think of you?
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