Emma Watson on Sexism

Emma Watson first recalls experiencing Sexism at a very young age. “I started questioning gender-based assumptions when at eight I was confused at being called “bossy,” because I wanted to direct the plays…” Watson said during her speech for the HeForShe campaign at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 20th, 2014. She wanted to direct the plays that they put on for their parents. There were other boys her age doing this with no push back. But because she was a girl, Watson was thought of as bossy for wanting to do the same thing. An 8 year old girl who doesn’t quite understand Gender Stereotypes, just received her first lesson. Women cannot do anything authoritative. A woman should be bossed around, not be the boss.

As Emma started to get older, all of her friends were so focused on their looks. The thought of

appearing more masculine made them drop out of their sports teams. They were only 15. “…they didn’t want to appear ‘muscly.’” The fear that someone might find them unattractive or less feminine because of something they enjoyed. These girls felt that they had to follow societies “rules” for women or they would be criticized. This happens because, from a very young age, girls are told time and time again how they should look, what they should/shouldn’t do, and over all how they should portray themselves to the world.

When Watson was 14 years old she experienced the media starting to pay more attention to her body than her acting. Once a girl hits puberty and start looking more like a woman than a child, she is sexualized. Watson wasn’t even old enough to be in high school. She was still a child. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban had just been released. She was enjoying her life. She loved acting and wanted to share that with the world. However, simply because she was a woman who was starting to mature physically, her acting was staring to be the second topic discussed.

As Emma has gotten older, she has branched out into many different things. After the Harry Potter series was finished, she started taking on more serious roles. My Week with Marilyn was her first movie after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the final installment in the Harry Potter series. Although, she didn’t have a huge role in the movie, it started to show her versatility as an actress. From that she received much bigger roles, like Sam in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Although, different acting roles is not the only thing she has taken on.

In July of 2014, Watson was appointed as an United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador. Her ultimate goal is to empower young women to achieve whatever they want to. She has started the HeForShe campaign that promotes Gender Equality, not just for women, but for everyone. Emma is truly humbled by the opportunity. She told UN Women, “Women’s rights are something so inextricably linked with who I am, so deeply personal and rooted in my life that I can’t imagine an opportunity more exciting.”

Emma also saw how sexism affected men as well. She knew that women were not the only victims of gender inequality. During her speech at the UN, she acknowledged just how unequal men were as well. However, this is not the only time she has addressed men being treated unfairly due to gender stereotypes. On International Women’s Day, Emma teamed up with Facebook to talk about Feminism and Gender Equality in a live stream talk.

“How you feel, being able to express yourself, being emotional - It’s not what makes you a girl; It’s what makes you human,” Emma said in her live stream on Facebook. She was referring to the idea that men cannot express their feelings, or cry, or show emotions that are deemed feminine. Men need to be able to express themselves just as a woman can. This is part of why she feels that Feminism is not just for women. She has started the HeForShe program to get more men involved. During her speech at the UN headquarters she invited men to join the campaign. Saying: “Gender equality is your issue too.”

She calls out the misconception of feminism often. She wants everyone to understand that it isn’t about “man-hating”. She wants everyone to unite and fight for Gender equality. At the beginning of her speech at the UN Headquarters, launching her HeForShe campaign, she reminded everyone what feminism really is, “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.’” During her live stream talk on Facebook, she let everyone know that those who believe all genders should be equal are Feminists, “If you stand for equality, you’re a feminist. I’m sorry to tell you. You’re a feminist.”

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