HeForShe

The other day, Emma Watson gave a speech at a UN Summit addressing the gender inequality issue we see in today’s world. When I first saw this video, I was so impressed by how eloquently Emma spoke, and how much she cares about what she spoke of.

I have always looked up to Emma Watson. I was never a huge Harry Potter fan, but there was always something about her that I liked. She has a persona and a way of carrying herself that girls can aspire to have. In today’s society, many of the women young girls look up to advertise unhealthy looking bodies and less than admirable decisions. Emma Watson is someone any mother would love her daughter look up to.

Emma’s speech to the UN was powerful in its simplicity. She spoke slowly and generally calmly; however, the words that she was saying spoke for themselves.

She talked about feminism and how its definition has been skewed by false assumptions. Emma defines feminism as “…the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities”. She argued that gender equality isn’t solely a woman’s issue. Gender equality should be important to both genders. The differences we experience affect both sides, so both sides should be involved in the solution.

As a woman in today’s society, I can see the different ways in which women are seen. If a woman gets up in front of a group of people and commands the floor and asserts herself, she is seen as bossy; while a man doing the same thing is confident. I have been fortunate enough to have a small range of experiences regarding gender inequality. But I commend Emma Watson in her efforts, because all people no matter their gender, throughout the world, should be afforded the same.