<div style=”margin-bottom:5px”> <strong> <a href=”https://www.slideshare.net/unwomen/emma-watsons-heforshe-speech-at-the-un” title=”Emma Watson's "HeforShe" Speech as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador” target=”_blank”>Emma Watson's "HeforShe" Speech as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador</a> </strong> from <strong><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/unwomen” target=”_blank”>UN Women</a></strong> </div>
Actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson gave a game-changing speech at the UN about feminism and the need for gender equality. Her speech kicked off the HeforShe campaign, which encourages men to join the fight for gender equality. Full transcript: http://owl.li/BSbad
Some of our favorite excerpts:
“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.”
“Men—I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
– UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson.
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