Emma Watson has called on men to join her in the battle for gender equality in a moving speech, which was welcomed with a standing ovation at the U.N. headquarters in New York over the weekend. The British starlet fulfilled her promises as a U.N. Women global goodwill ambassador, delivering an inspirational speech in which she urged the men of the world to fight for the females in their life reminding them, "it's your issue too".
The Harry Potter actress spoke at the launch of her HeForShe campaign where she hopes to recruit men to join her in her mission for gender equality. During her powerful address, the 24-year-old opened up on her experiences of sexism particularly in the press, as well as during her time in school where she was told that she was "bossy" for wanting to direct a school play."When at 14 I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press," she said. "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. 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 look less 'macho' — in fact in the UK suicide is the biggest killer of men between 20-49; 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."
Her delivery went down a storm as she touched on gender inequality in the work place and explained why being a feminist doesn't make her "aggressive" or a "man-hater", a misconception made far too often.
"I decided I was a feminist and this seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive. Why is the word such an uncomfortable one? I was appointed six months ago and the more I have 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."
Watch Emma's call for gender equality below….
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