Emma Watson is a badass.
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. Full transcript here.
Click to viewSome 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. Full transcript here.