Emma Watson for #HeforShe: The Power of Celebrity and Social Media for Justice
This past weekend, British actress and U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson delivered a compelling speech to the U.N. General Women’s Assembly to launch the #HeforShe campaign.
The aim of this campaign is to mobilize as many men and boys as possible to advocate for gender equality. In her moving speech, Emma Watson brought attention to the unfortunate reality that “feminisim” is too often associated with “man hating,” effectively halting the progression of achieving gender equality.
“How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation,” asks Watson poignantly. “Men, I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.”
The involvement of men in the movement towards improving the conditions of women and girls all over the world creates a sense of universality, that males and females must come together to address what Watson calls a “human rights” issue.
She continues, saying that in order to galvanize major change, men must also break the shackles of their own gender stereotypes. “If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive,” she asserts.
The concept of viewing men and women as two opposite entities with opposing ideals is not progressive or productive. According to Watson, men and women should define themselves as who they are, rather than what they are not, and in turn be accepting of their counterparts.
The #HeforShe campaign has since garnered a lot of attention on social media, and Watson has encouraged her followers to take the pledge their support.
The trending hashtag has taken over Facebook and Twitter in the past couple days, and the message seems to be resonating.
Take a look at Emma Watson’s heartfelt and moving speech for yourself:
In the wake of the recent flood of social media conversation following the Ray Rice domestic violence scandal, proponents of gender equality are especially engaged.
At the moment, many twitter conversations have centered on social justice for women, and Emma Watson’s call for action could not have come at a more relevant time. Streamlining the message of #HeforShe under a unique yet succinct hashtag creates a solid platform for generating widespread conversation.
Social media sites are fantastic forums for grassroots campaigns to snowball into global movements for justice – as seen this past summer with the viral success of the #StrikeOutALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
I hope to see the #HeForShe movement stay afloat among other current social issues, and maintain its fearless determination to spur change.
