Speech by UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson at a special event for the HeForShe campaign, United Nations Headquarters, New York, 20 September 2014
[Check against delivery.]
Today we are launching a campaign called “HeForShe.”
I am reaching out to you because I need your help.We want to end gender inequality—and to do that we need everyone to be involved.
This is the first campaign of its kind at the UN: we want to try and galvanize as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for gender equality. And we don’t just want to talk about it, but make sure it is tangible.
I was appointed six months ago and the more I have spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.
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.”
I started questioning gender-based assumptions when at eight I was confused at being called “bossy,” because I wanted to direct the plays we would put on for our parents—but the boys were not.
When at 14 I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press.
When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear “muscly.”
When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings.
I decided I was a feminist and this seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word.
Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive.
Why is the word such an uncomfortable one?
I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights.
No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality.
These rights I consider to be human rights but I am one of the lucky ones. My life is a sheer privilege because my parents didn’t love me less because I was born a daughter. My school did not limit me because I was a girl. My mentors didn’t assume I would go less far because I might give birth to a child one day. These influencers were the gender equality ambassadors that made me who I am today. They may not know it, but they are the inadvertent feminists who are changing the world today. And we need more of those.
And if you still hate the word—it is not the word that is important but the idea and the ambition behind it. Because not all women have been afforded the same rights that I have. In fact, statistically, very few have been.
In 1995, Hilary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women’s rights. Sadly many of the things she wanted to change are still a reality today.
But what stood out for me the most was that only 30 per cent of her audience were male. How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?
Men—I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.
Because to date, I’ve seen my father’s role as a parent being valued less by society despite my needing his presence as a child as much as my mother’s.
I’ve seen young men suffering from mental illness unable to ask for help for fear it would make them look less “macho”—in fact in the UK suicide is the biggest killer of men between 20-49 years of age; eclipsing road accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease. I’ve seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don’t have the benefits of equality either.
We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes but I can see that that they are and that 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 have 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… It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideals.
If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are—we can all be freer and this is what HeForShe is about. 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 that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too—reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and in doing so be a more true and complete version of themselves.
You might be thinking who is this Harry Potter girl? And what is she doing up on stage at the UN. It’s a good question and trust me, I have been asking myself the same thing. I don’t know if I am qualified to be here. All I know is that I care about this problem. And I want to make it better.
And having seen what I’ve seen—and given the chance—I feel it is my duty to say something. English Statesman Edmund Burke said: “All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for enough good men and women to do nothing.”
In my nervousness for this speech and in my moments of doubt I’ve told myself firmly—if not me, who, if not now, when. If you have similar doubts when opportunities are presented to you I hope those words might be helpful.
Because the reality is that if we do nothing it will take 75 years, or for me to be nearly a hundred before women can expect to be paid the same as men for the same work. 15.5 million girls will be married in the next 16 years as children. And at current rates it won’t be until 2086 before all rural African girls will be able to receive a secondary education.
If you believe in equality, you might be one of those inadvertent feminists I spoke of earlier.
And for this I applaud you.
We are struggling for a uniting word but the good news is we have a uniting movement. It is called HeForShe. I am inviting you to step forward, to be seen to speak up, to be the "he" for "she". And to ask yourself if not me, who? If not now, when?
Thank you.
Also available in: French; Spanish; Portuguese
To see a video of Emma delivering her speech, visit HeForShe.org
FAQs
What is the purpose of Emma Watson's speech about gender equality? ›
In the speech, Watson made the important point that in order for gender equality to be achieved, harmful and destructive stereotypes of masculinity and behavioral expectations for boys and men have got to change.
Who is the author of the lesson gender equality is your issue too? ›[Check against delivery.]
Where did Emma Watson give her speech? ›In July of 2014, Watson was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for U.N. Women; that September, she delivered a rousing speech at the U.N. Headquarters launching the HeForShe campaign, the aim of which is to bring more men into the feminist fold, because gender equality benefits everybody.
What did Emma Watson do for feminism? ›Not only was she appointed a UN Women Goodwill ambassador and HeForShe spokesperson but she has given numerous speeches across the globe, including countries such as Bangladesh and Uruguay, highlighting the importance of women's political participation and education for young girls.
What is the message of Emma Watson's speech? ›Emma Watson' speech revolves around the topics of gender inequality and gender roles. More specifically, it is about how stereotypical gender roles contribute to creating and preserving gender inequality.
What persuasive techniques does Emma Watson use in her speech? ›The most used rhetorical devices in Emma Watson's “HeForShe Speech”, are enumerations and repetitions, rhetorical questions, and direct address. Additionally, the speaker utilises several allusions to support her ca…
What is gender equality answer? ›Gender equality is when people of all genders have equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities. Everyone is affected by gender inequality - women, men, trans and gender diverse people, children and families. It impacts people of all ages and backgrounds. We need gender equality urgently.
What does Emma Watson stand for? ›British actor Emma Watson was appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in July 2014. The accomplished actor, humanitarian and recent graduate of Brown University will dedicate her efforts towards the empowerment of young women and will serve as an advocate for UN Women's HeForShe campaign in promoting gender equality.
What has HeForShe achieved? ›HeForShe Champions have done the hard work and shared their tried and tested for achieving parity at leadership, for ending gender-based violence and for many more of today's most critical equality issues.
Is Emma Watson a feminist leader? ›Watson proudly called herself a feminist, and redefined feminism from being a controversial, man-hating movement, to one that simply believes “that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities” (Watson, 2014).
Why is Emma Watson a good leader? ›
By being a visionary and empowering both men and women to work together towards gender equality, Watson acts as a transformational leader. She encourages her followers to attain self-actualization and satisfy needs such as morality, acceptance and a greater purpose.
What inspired Emma Watson to become an activist? ›Many people don't know that Emma got inspired by a documentary called 'The True Cost' and decided to get involved with an ethical clothing line of her own. She promoted sustainable fashion when she was on the red carpet. She is also a qualified yoga and meditation instructor!
What can we learn from Emma Watson? ›Emma Watson has demonstrated that hard work pays off. She learned she had gotten the Hermione role after eight rigorous auditions. The secret to success is dedication. The majority of success stories, even if they appear to have occurred overnight, did not.
How did Emma Watson impact the world? ›Promoting gender equality
Alongside her acting work, Emma Watson campaigns on climate, social and gender equality issues. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women – the United Nations organization which promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Emma Watson is an ISFJ personality type. Grounded and trustworthy, you can count on Emma to stick to her word. As an ISFJ, Emma is highly organized and she tends to focus on the details.
What is the tone of the HeForShe speech? ›Overall, her tone is serious, with occasional instances of sadness and disappointment, and ending on an encour…
Who is the audience for Emma Watson's speech? ›The audience of Emma Watson's “HeForShe Speech”, also known as receivers, is primarily formed by all those present in front of the UN stage where Emma Watson delivered the launch speech of the UN gender equality campaign, HeForShe. The speech was delivered at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York, in 2014.
How does Emma Watson use pathos in her speech? ›Finally, Emma Watson appeals to pathos by recalling different times in her life where inequalities in gender showed up. In doing so, she evokes strong support from the audience by showing that inequality of the genders is real and can happen to anyone, regardless of who they are.
How did Emma Watson use ethos in her speech? ›Watson used ethos when she drew on her own personal experiences, made clever use of pathos with her compelling stories of the effects of gender stereotypes, and she used logos when she redefines feminism. Her choice of language highlights her point.
Is Emma Watson credible? ›As a speaker, Emma Watson comes across as credible and reliable and sends her message across by building a trust relationship with the audience.
Where is Emma Watson speaking and in what capacity? ›
This is Expert Verified Answer
Emma Watson is speaking at the launch of the HeForShe campaign, at the General Assembly at the United Nations' building in New York. She is addressing the audience as the UN Goodwill Ambassador for Women.
Gender equality is at the very heart of human rights and United Nations values. Equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, adopted by world leaders in 1945.
Why is gender equality good for everyone? ›Improving equality for girls and women can reduce the amount of violence and provide security for those who are vulnerable. Research also shows that gender equality is a better indicator of a country's likelihood to deploy military force than its GDP. As gender equality improves, a country's peace improves.
What is gender equality give examples? ›Gender equality in the workforce means being paid the same salary for equal work, regardless of gender. It also means that if a woman takes time off from work to take maternity leave, for example, she will not be punished when she returns to work.
Why is Emma Watson a hero? ›Emma Watson is a hero because of her determination for equal rights and for education, and because of her commitment to activism. She started off in the film business starring in all of the Harry Potter films as Heromine Granger but then moved on to bigger and more mature roles.
Is Emma Watson vegan? ›Is Emma Watson vegan or vegetarian? She is neither. She does have meat on her plate quite often, which means she is neither vegetarian nor vegan. However, she does support vegan-friendly products and fashion.
Who is husband of Emma Watson? ›Emma Watson has purposely kept her love life out of the public eye for years, but in May 2021, the Daily Mail reported that Watson was rumored to be engaged to Leo Robinton, her boyfriend of over one year, after the two were photographed out together on May 13, 2021.
Is the HeForShe campaign successful? ›At its launch, UN Women made a call to mobilize the first 100,000 men in the campaign; a goal successfully reached in only three days! Now four years old, HeForShe has garnered approximately 1.3 billion commitments, a number continuing to grow.
How many people Support HeForShe? ›On the HeForShe website, a geo-locating map records the global engagement of the movement through counting the number of men and women around the world who have taken a pledge for the HeForShe initiative, registering over 2.1 million online commitments worldwide.
What is feminist gender equality? ›Feminism can be defined as the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of gender equality. In our Introduction to gender inequality open step, experts describe gender equality as denoting equal respect, rights and opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender identity.
How long has Emma Watson been an activist? ›
...
| Emma Watson | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actress activist |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Awards | Full list |
| Signature | |
- “You educate a man; you educate a man. ...
- “When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. ...
- “I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. ...
- “I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. ...
- “A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.”
Emma Watson is not shy about being a feminist. On and offscreen, Emma Watson aims to be a strong role model for young women. She has been an outspoken advocate for women's rights and gender equality.
How is Emma Watson humble? ›Emma Watson is HUMBLE because she does not let the fame get to her head. She has enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life due to the Harry Potter films, but she chose to go to college.
How much has Emma Watson donated to charity? ›Emma Watson
In 2018, she gave an estimated $1.4 million to the U.K. Justice and Equality Fund, an anti-sexual harassment campaign.
For years, The Perks of Being a Wallflower actor had trouble finding stasis. “I found my first couple of years outside of Potter pretty difficult,” Watson revealed. “I struggled to adjust to life outside in a way that I wasn't anticipating.”
Why did Emma Watson go to Brown? ›The movie star also studied at Worcester College, Oxford
It's pretty on-brand that Watson chose Brown so she wouldn't have to limit her studies. Eventually, she did make her wish of attending Oxbridge a partial reality.
The cast members were mostly peers, and have all celebrated birthdays when the release date finally came. Hermione Granger was 11-12 years old during the first movie, but Emma Watson was only 10 and just turned 11 when the movie was released.
How much does Emma Watson make? ›| Name | Emma Watson |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2022) | $90 Million |
| Profession | Actress |
| Monthly Income And Salary | $0.5 Million + |
| Yearly Income | $10 Million + |
Because I can never rely on a physical place." So, she got certified last year to teach yoga and meditation, something that anchors her crazy life, Watson said. That fact is something fans might not have know about the star. Over the years, they've learned pretty much everything else.
What did Emma Watson hope to achieve with this speech? ›
In the speech, Watson made the important point that in order for gender equality to be achieved, harmful and destructive stereotypes of masculinity and behavioral expectations for boys and men have got to change.
How much did Emma Watson make from Harry Potter? ›Harry Potter Earned Emma $70 Million
That's correct: Emma made a reported $70 million from this franchise—which included starring in the movies, making a ton of appearances, and having her face on endless amounts of merch.
How did Emma Watson get the opportunity to audition for the 'Harry Potter' movies? Thanks to her dad, Watson fell in love with Hermione when she was simply a character in a book. The Bling Ring actor's father would read her excerpts of the Harry Potter books on long car rides.
What is Emma Watson's IQ? ›With an IQ range from 130 to 144, 2.3 percent of the population is deemed superiorly clever or talented. Emma Watson IQ is scored 138. As a result, she comes within the group of talented. She is in the top 3% of the world's most brilliant people.
Does Emma Watson have a child? ›Emma Watson may not have any kids yet but thanks to her profession, she's played a mother a handful of times. Thanks to the 19 years later epilogue in the final Harry Potter movie, she first experienced on-screen children in her early 20s.
How old is Emma Watson now? ›Emma Watson's birthday is April 15. She was born in 1990 in Paris, France, making her 11 years old when the first Potter film was released. She is currently 32 years old.
What is the tone of the HeForShe speech? ›Overall, her tone is serious, with occasional instances of sadness and disappointment, and ending on an encour…
How does Emma Watson use logos in her speech? ›Emma Watson uses logos when she gives practical examples of gender role stereotypes which have a negative impact on both women and men, to support the idea that gender equality benefits both men and women: “When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams becau…
What does the HeForShe campaign mean? ›HeForShe is an invitation for men and people of all genders to stand in solidarity with women to create a bold, visible and united force for gender equality. The men of HeForShe aren't on the sidelines.
How does Emma Watson use pathos in her speech? ›Finally, Emma Watson appeals to pathos by recalling different times in her life where inequalities in gender showed up. In doing so, she evokes strong support from the audience by showing that inequality of the genders is real and can happen to anyone, regardless of who they are.
What has HeForShe achieved? ›
At its launch, UN Women made a call to mobilize the first 100,000 men in the campaign; a goal successfully reached in only three days! Now four years old, HeForShe has garnered approximately 1.3 billion commitments, a number continuing to grow.
Who was the audience for Emma Watson HeForShe speech? ›The audience of Emma Watson's “HeForShe Speech”, also known as receivers, is primarily formed by all those present in front of the UN stage where Emma Watson delivered the launch speech of the UN gender equality campaign, HeForShe. The speech was delivered at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York, in 2014.
What Has Emma Watson done to change the world? ›Dubbed the "Voice Of a Generation", in recent years, Emma has been a spokesperson on women's rights and other social issues. In 2014, she was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which advocates for gender equality.
How did Emma Watson use ethos in her speech? ›Watson used ethos when she drew on her own personal experiences, made clever use of pathos with her compelling stories of the effects of gender stereotypes, and she used logos when she redefines feminism. Her choice of language highlights her point.
Why is HeForShe important? ›In a nutshell, HeForShe is a solidarity campaign for the advancement of women initiated by U.N. Women. Its stated goal is to engage men and boys as agents of change by encouraging them to take action against negative inequalities faced by women and girls.
What is gender equality and why is it important? ›Gender equality prevents violence against women and girls. It's essential for economic prosperity. Societies that value women and men as equal are safer and healthier. Gender equality is a human right.
What inspired Emma Watson to become an activist? ›Many people don't know that Emma got inspired by a documentary called 'The True Cost' and decided to get involved with an ethical clothing line of her own. She promoted sustainable fashion when she was on the red carpet. She is also a qualified yoga and meditation instructor!
Why is Emma Watson a good leader? ›By being a visionary and empowering both men and women to work together towards gender equality, Watson acts as a transformational leader. She encourages her followers to attain self-actualization and satisfy needs such as morality, acceptance and a greater purpose.
Is Emma Watson credible? ›As a speaker, Emma Watson comes across as credible and reliable and sends her message across by building a trust relationship with the audience.
What is the feminism approach? ›The feminist approach requires supporting the voice, agency and empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity and others who face discrimination or marginalization.