By Lian Bunny
News Assignment Editor
Gender equality. The phrase doesn’t sound daunting. But feminism — that word alone can make people cringe. It can quickly make people view you differently. All of a sudden you seem more radical, more liberal, and more unreasonable.
Emma Watson, beloved actress well known from the Harry Potter movies, delivered an inspiring speech at the UN meeting on Sept. 20. Her talk refocused the true meaning of feminism.
“Feminism by definition is that women and men should have equal rights…my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word,” Watson said. “Apparently, I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating and anti-men. Unattractive, even.”
Even as a woman, I feel uncomfortable defining myself as a feminist.
The title has such a negative connotation in today’s society. If someone came up and asked me if I believe in equal rights for men and women, I would adamantly agree with no hesitation. If that same person asked me if I was a feminist, I would obstinately deny it. And I’ve never really questioned why that is, until now.
Watson’s speech launched a feminist campaign called HeForShe initiative. The goal of the program is to formally invite men and boys to participate in the fight for gender equality. According to Watson, it’s the first program of this kind.
Women need to advocate for gender equality. Watson calculated that at its current rate, it will take 75 years before women can expect to be paid as much as men for the same work. Change can be made, but it doesn’t have to be in a pushy way. I personally would like the HeForShe campaign to break the feminist stereotype. Change can be accomplished without being negatively aggressive. Feminists should not be synonymous with “man-haters.”
Although it is not discussed frequently, Watson detailed the oppression men experience from stereotypes as well. Because of their gender, men feel insecure being emotional or letting women take charge. Oftentimes they are not seen as potential victims of rape. Breaking these stereotypes can only lead to more gender equality, as Watson highlighted. If men are not controlling, women will not be controlled. If men are openly sensitive, women will not be seen as inferior for doing so.
As Watson also pointed out, men should join the fight for gender equality. If men are not included in the feminist conversation, then the movement is automatically limiting its audience to half of the world population. Watson recalls Hillary Clinton’s speech on feminism in Beijing, China. Only 30 percent of the audience was male. The world will not change for the better if men do not get more involved.
Watson closed her talk by saying, “Edmund Burke said, ‘All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing’…I’ve told myself firmly, if not me, who? If not now, when?”
