Emma Watson’s Feminist Speech

Emma+Watson%E2%80%99s+Feminist+Speech

Allison Ferreria, '16

Most of us recognize Emma Watson as the cute character, Hermione Granger, from Harry Potter. Until recently, I was unaware that she is also the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for the “HeForShe” campaign. The “HeForShe” campaign advocates an end to gender barriers faced by women, not just in the United States, but all over the world. On September 20th, Watson delivered a breathtaking speech on feminism and gender equality at the U.N. headquarters in New York. Not only did Watson’s speech send shockwaves throughout the world, but it also moved students and teachers at NDA, creating vibrant discussions in our classrooms.

Watson’s speech had three main points: why feminism shouldn’t be scoffed by society, why men are also at a disadvantage, and why both men and women must collaborate together to improve women’s rights. She posed the compelling question, “If not me, who? If not now, when?” It is difficult to capture the essence of her words in this mere summary. I suggest you check out some of her words from the video (link provided below). Some of the quotes that moved me were:

“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.”

“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 want men to take up this mantle so their daughters, sisters, and mothers can be free from prejudice-but also so their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human, too, and in doing so, be a more true and complete version of themselves.”

As an all-girls’ school, NDA fosters the growth of self-confident, poised, and motivated young women. For me, going to an all-girls school has allowed me and my classmates to discover our own voices. Recently, Ms. Hurley’s AP Language and Composition class took on the challenge of analyzing the rhetorical elements of Watson’s speech. In class, we discussed the rhetorical strategies that made her speech so powerful. The use of an anecdote, repetition, and Watson’s strong ethos and pathos appeal made her argument that much stronger. Along with an in-depth discussion of the structure of Watson’s speech, we pondered her compelling questions, “If not me, who? If not now, when?” If we want to see a change in this world, we need to spread awareness about this issue and take action, now. Women all around the world are being discriminated against because of their gender. They take lower paying jobs, are taken advantage of, and are denied opportunities. An end to this issue starts by taking advantage of our education, which we are so blessed to have. We can do it ladies!

Want to hear more of the speech? Check it out here.