#HeforShe - Emma Watson, the UN, and nuancing the dialogue

[seraphcelene]

I was asked what felt like a combo question: 1 - why did Emma Watson need to make this speech, and 2 - what was the purpose of her making the speech? In answer: it's not about redefining the word feminism or reclaiming the word from negative stereotypes. In fact, she admits to having no real solution to the growing disdain (and it's kind of news to me) for the word feminist. Instead, Watson's speech is about incorporating the idea of gender equality (perhaps simplistically focused on integrating social/emotional equality for men) into a discussion that has been primarily about the social, political, and economic equality of women. I still disagree that the speech is a recalibration of the meaning or image of what feminism is. Rather, she seeks to offer an alternate, explicitly inclusive entry point for men into the discussion of women's rights by encouraging them to consider and eradicate biases that exist for BOTH genders. The idea is that improve one situation and the other will, by natural extension, also improve. Shifting the focus from feminism, which is just about women, to gender equality, which is about BOTH genders, is an act meant to reduce the us versus them stereotype that some people have about feminism. The 'it's not my problem' syndrome. It also sidesteps what she initially presents as the PR image that feminists are facing. Which, again, surprises me to some degree. But then again, at more then 10 years younger than me, she was also surprised so I'm wondering what that demographic of naysayers looks like.

"Emma Watson HeForShe Speech at the United Nations | UN Women 2014" (Watch on YouTube)

Emma Watson HeForShe Speech at the United Nations | UN Women 2014

Comments

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

Considering this happened post the misogynist bullshit hacking of all those actresses' nude photos, I feel like the timing of this speech is kind of unfortunate. Particularly since I just read that the hackers have already titled their next campaign "Emma You're Next".

So you know, fuck inclusive. Women continue to suffer injustices that men not only never have to tolerate, but actually organize. This is why ALL women need Feminism. This is why.

[seraphcelene]

WORD!

The post was instigated by a semi-discussion I had with a family friend and the language he was using laid the blame for the man-hating image of feminists squarely at the feet of, you guessed it, feminists. As an avowed feminist, it pissed me the hell off because there is nothing about feminism that automatically means man-hater. He asked me the questions that I answered here before I watched the speech. The speech, especially after all the news coverage, is a little underwhelming. She isn't saying anything new AND the necessity for an official and explicit invitation to "Men and Boys" to take part in a movement that should be obviously beneficial to them is galling and redonk. I mean, c'mon! The response from the "hackers" highlights the disparity in the treatment of women. But, I get where the point of this speech is coming from. I don't think that we shouldn't HAVE TO incorporate that gender equality portion, but I get the why even though it bugs me that for some people they have to see how something affects them directly before they can understand how it's wrong. I mean, REALLY?

[lynnenne]

ILU.

[lynnenne]

I'm wondering what that demographic of naysayers looks like.

Reaganites. There was a big backlash against feminism in the 80s and early 90s, when it was hip to be square. Susan Faludi even wrote a book about it. The stigma of the "man-hating feminist" shamed a lot of young women into passionately declaring that they WEREN'T feminists, even if they believed in justice and equal rights for women. That stigma is only now beginning to wear off in the western world. I believe that social media has helped a lot of girls and young women realize that there are LOTS of other women out there with the same beliefs, and that "feminism" isn't a dirty word.