Earlier this year actress Emma Watson was named a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador, and over the weekend gave a passionate speech on gender and feminism at the U.N. headquarters in New York to launch the HeForShe campaign. She talked about the many misconceptions of feminism, how it can be seen as a dirty word and she pushed back against campaigns such as Women Against Feminism, but her main goal was to ignite male support, stating that feminism is not a single gender issue. She calls for men and boys everywhere to become advocates for ending the inequalities that women and girls face globally. Emma said in her speech:

“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 am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman 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 decision-making of my country. 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.”

To find out more about the HeForShe campaign, head to heforshe.org

You can watch her entire speech below…

Tags: Emma Watson, Feminism, HeForShe