Inspirational speech to United Nations on gender equality, Emma Watson
Summary
TLDRIn her speech as a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women, the speaker addresses the misconception that feminism is synonymous with man-hating, clarifying that it is about equal rights and opportunities for all genders. She shares personal experiences and societal observations to highlight gender stereotypes and their impact on both men and women. She emphasizes the importance of gender equality as a human rights issue and invites men to join the conversation, advocating for a world where both genders can be strong, sensitive, and free from prejudice. The speech concludes with a call to action, urging everyone to be part of the 'HeForShe' movement to achieve gender equality.
Takeaways
- π 'Feminism' by definition is the advocacy for equal rights and opportunities for both sexes, not synonymous with 'man hating'.
- πΆ The speaker began questioning gender stereotypes at a young age, noticing differential treatment as early as eight years old.
- π The media's sexualization of young girls and societal pressures lead to girls dropping out of sports to avoid appearing 'muscly'.
- π Men also face constraints from expressing their feelings due to societal expectations of masculinity.
- π Despite progress, no country has fully achieved gender equality, indicating a global issue.
- πͺ The speaker acknowledges her privilege, attributing it to the support of parents, school, and mentors who did not limit her potential based on gender.
- π₯ The concept of 'inadvertent feminists' is introduced, highlighting those who unknowingly promote gender equality.
- πββοΈ An invitation is extended to men to participate in the conversation about gender equality, emphasizing it is an issue that affects them too.
- π The speaker calls for a shift from gender stereotypes to a spectrum of gender identities, allowing for more fluid expressions of self.
- π‘ The 'HeForShe' movement is introduced as a unifying force for change, encouraging both men and women to advocate for gender equality.
Q & A
What is the main message of the speech given by the Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women?
-The main message is that feminism should not be equated with man-hating, but rather it is about advocating for equal rights and opportunities for both men and women.
How does the speaker describe her early experiences with gender-based assumptions?
-The speaker recounts being called 'bossy' at eight for wanting to direct plays, being sexualized by the media at 14, observing her female friends drop out of sports at 15 to avoid appearing 'muscly', and seeing her male friends struggle to express their feelings at 18.
What does the speaker believe is a significant issue with the current perception of feminism?
-The speaker believes that feminism has become an unpopular word, with many women choosing not to identify as feminists and the term being associated with being too aggressive, isolating, and anti-men.
Why does the speaker consider herself one of the lucky ones?
-The speaker considers herself lucky because her parents, school, and mentors did not limit her opportunities or expectations based on her gender.
What does the speaker mean by 'inadvertent feminists'?
-The speaker refers to 'inadvertent feminists' as those who support gender equality and contribute to changing the world without necessarily identifying as feminists or realizing the impact of their actions.
What is the speaker's stance on the importance of involving men in the conversation about gender equality?
-The speaker emphasizes that gender equality is also men's issue and that change cannot happen unless men are invited and feel welcome to participate in the conversation.
How does the speaker suggest that men can also benefit from gender equality?
-The speaker suggests that men can benefit from gender equality by being able to express their feelings without judgment, not being expected to conform to aggressive stereotypes, and having their roles as parents valued equally by society.
What is the 'HeForShe' campaign mentioned in the speech, and what is its goal?
-The 'HeForShe' campaign is a solidarity movement for gender equality where men are invited to stand in support of women's rights to help create a more gender-equal world.
What does the speaker believe is the consequence of doing nothing to advance gender equality?
-If no action is taken, it will take 75 years for women to be paid the same as men for the same work, and many other gender equality milestones will be delayed, such as reducing child marriages and improving education for girls in rural Africa.
How does the speaker encourage those who doubt their ability to make a difference?
-The speaker uses the quote from statesman Edmund Burke, 'All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing,' to encourage action and to question 'if not me, who? If not now, when?' to inspire those with doubts.
What is the speaker's personal motivation for speaking at the UN and advocating for gender equality?
-The speaker's personal motivation is her care for the problem of gender inequality and her sense of responsibility to use her platform and experiences to advocate for change.
Outlines
π Feminism and Gender Equality
The speaker begins by sharing her appointment as a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women and her realization that feminism is often misunderstood as man-hating. She clarifies that feminism is about advocating for equal rights and opportunities for both sexes. Reflecting on her own life, she recalls instances of gender-based assumptions and the pressures faced by both men and women due to societal norms. She emphasizes the importance of gender equality as a human right and acknowledges her privilege. The speaker also points out that no country has fully achieved gender equality and calls for more inadvertent feminists to change the world.
π Inviting Men to the Conversation
In this paragraph, the speaker extends an invitation to men to join the conversation on gender equality, arguing that it is an issue that affects them too. She discusses how societal expectations have led to men being undervalued as parents and suffering from mental health issues due to a fear of appearing less masculine. The speaker highlights the statistic that suicide is the leading cause of death for men in the UK between the ages of 20 and 49. She calls for a redefinition of gender roles, where both men and women can express their full range of emotions without societal constraints. The speaker introduces the 'HeForShe' movement as a unifying force for change and encourages everyone to take action.
π The 'HeForShe' Movement
The speaker concludes by emphasizing the 'HeForShe' movement as a call to action for everyone to participate in the pursuit of gender equality. She invites individuals to step forward and consider their role in the movement, asking the rhetorical questions 'If not me, who? If not now, when?' The speaker acknowledges the power of collective action and the potential for change when people unite around a common cause. She ends with a note of gratitude and a call to join the movement, highlighting the importance of unity and action in achieving gender equality.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Feminism
π‘Gender Equality
π‘Goodwill Ambassador
π‘Sexualization
π‘Gender Stereotypes
π‘Inadvertent Feminists
π‘HeForShe
π‘Human Rights
π‘Gender Spectrum
π‘Submissive
π‘Vulnerability
Highlights
Feminism is often misunderstood as man-hating, but it should be about equal rights and opportunities for all genders.
Gender-based assumptions and stereotypes start affecting individuals at a young age, as early as childhood.
Media sexualization and societal expectations can lead to girls dropping out of sports to avoid appearing 'muscly'.
Men also face challenges in expressing their feelings due to societal norms.
The speaker identifies as a feminist and believes in the uncomplicated nature of gender equality.
Feminism has become an unpopular word, with many women choosing not to identify with it.
The speaker calls for an end to the negative connotations associated with feminism.
Despite progress, no country in the world has achieved complete gender equality.
The speaker's life is a privilege due to the support and encouragement from her parents and mentors.
The concept of 'inadvertent feminists' is introduced, highlighting those who promote gender equality without identifying as feminists.
Gender equality is not just a women's issue; it is a human rights issue that affects everyone.
Men also suffer from the constraints of gender stereotypes, which can lead to mental health issues.
The speaker extends an invitation to men to participate in the conversation about gender equality.
Gender equality should be about freedom for both men and women to express their full range of emotions and characteristics.
The 'HeForShe' movement is introduced as a unifying force for gender equality.
The speaker encourages individuals to take up the mantle of change and act on their beliefs in equality.
If no action is taken, it will take over 75 years to achieve global gender pay equality.
The speaker concludes by urging everyone to join the movement and contribute to the cause of gender equality.
Transcripts
[Music]
i was appointed as goodwill ambassador
for un women six months ago
and the more i've spoken about feminism
the more i have realized that fighting
for women's rights
has too often become synonymous
with man hating
if there is one thing
i know for certain
it is that this has to stop
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
i started questioning gender-based
assumptions a long time ago
when i was eight
i was confused being called
bossy
because i wanted to direct the plays
that we would put on for our parents
but the boys were not
when at 14
i started to be sexualized by certain
elements of the media
when at 15
my girlfriends started dropping out of
their beloved sports teams
because they didn't want to appear
muscly
one at 18
my male friends were unable to express
their feelings
i decided
that i was a feminist
and this seemed uncomplicated to me
but my recent research
has shown me
that feminism has become an unpopular
word
[Music]
women
are choosing not to identify as feminist
[Music]
apparently i am among the ranks of women
whose expressions are seen as too strong
too aggressive
isolating
and
anti-men unattractive
why
has the word become such an
uncomfortable one
i am from britain
and i think it is right that i am paid
the same as my male counterparts
i think it is right
that i should be able to make decisions
about my own body
i think it is right
that women be involved on my behalf
in the policies and the decisions that
will affect my life
i think it is right
that socially
i am afforded the same respect as men
but sadly
i can say
that there is no one country in the
world
where all women can expect to receive
these
rights no country in the world can yet
say
that they have achieved gender equality
these rights
i consider to be human rights
but i am one of the lucky ones
my life is a sheer privilege
because my parents didn't love me less
because i was born a daughter
my school did not limit me
because i was a girl
my mentors didn't assume that i would go
less far because i might give birth to a
child one day
these influencers with a gender equality
ambassadors that made me who i am today
they may not know it
but they are the inadvertent feminists
who are changing the world today
we need more of those
and if you still hate the word
it is not the word
that is important
it's the idea and the ambition behind it
because not all women have received the
same rights that i have
in fact
statistically
very few have been
in 1997
hillary clinton made a famous speech in
beijing about women's rights
sadly
many of the things that she wanted to
change
are still true today
but what stood out for me the most
was that less than 30 percent
of the audience
were male
how can we affect change in the world
when only half of it is invited
or feel welcome to participate in the
conversation
men
i would like to take this opportunity
to extend your formal invitation
gender equality
is your issue too
[Music]
because to date
i've seen my father's role as a parent
being valued less by society
despite my needing his presence as a
child as much as my mother's
i've seen young men
suffering from mental illness
unable to ask for help for fear it would
make them
less of a men or less of a man
in fact in the uk
suicide
is the biggest killer of men between 20
to 49
eclipsing road accidents
cancer
and coronary heart disease
i've seen men made fragile and insecure
by a distorted sense
of what constitutes
male success
men don't have the benefits of equality
either
we don't often talk about men being
imprisoned by gender stereotypes
but i can see
that they are
and that when they are free
things will change for women
as a natural consequence
if men don't have to be aggressive
in order to be accepted
women won't feel compelled to be
submissive
[Music]
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
instead of two sets of opposing
ideals
[Music]
if if we stop defining each other by
what we are not
and start defining ourselves by who we
are
we can all be freer
and this is what he she is about
it's about freedom
i want men to take up this mantle
so that their daughters sisters and
mothers can be free from prejudice
but also so that their sons have
permission to be vulnerable and human
too
reclaim those parts themselves they
abandoned
and in doing so
be a more true and complete version of
themselves
you might be thinking
who is this harry potter girl
and
what is she doing speaking at the un and
it's a really good question
i've been asking myself the same thing
all i know
is that i care about this problem
and i want to make it better
and having seen what i've seen
and given the chance
i feel it is my responsibility
to say something
statesman edmund burke said
all that is needed for the forces of
evil to triumph
is for good men and women
to do nothing
[Music]
in my nervousness for this speech
and in my moments of doubt
[Music]
i've told myself firmly
[Music]
if not me
who
if not now
when
[Music]
if you have similar doubts when
opportunities are presented to you
i hope that those words will be helpful
because
[Music]
the reality is
that if we do nothing
it will take 75 years
or for me to be nearly a hundred
before women can expect to be paid the
same as men
for the same work
15.5 million girls will be married in
the next 16 years
as children
and at current rates
it won't be until 2086
before all rural african girls can have
a secondary education
if you believe
in equality
you might be one of those inadvertent
feminists that i spoke of earlier
and for this
i applaud you
we are struggling for a uniting word
but the good news is
that we have a uniting movement
it is called he for she
i am inviting you to step forward
to be seen
and to ask yourself
if not me
who
if not now
when
thank you very very much
[Applause]
[Music]
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