“Men also suffer from gender stereotypes.” Actress Emma Watson, ambassador of UN Women, proves her oratorical might in an eloquent speech on equality, freedom and gender.
It is “one of the greatest movements of solidarity,” according to the UN, during the official launch of UN Women on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the United Nations in New York. The campaign ‘HeForShe’ invites men and boys around the world to join the movement for gender equality.
“States have the obligation to fight against violence against women. But we also need to change attitudes. One in three women is abused – but that’s an issue for men, “said the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.
Over the next 12 months, the HeForShe campaign ‘aims to mobilize one billion men and boys as advocates of gender equality and agents of change.’
Emma Watson, the Advocate
Actress Emma Watson, appointed a Goodwill Ambassador of UN Women in July and in charge of promoting the ‘HeForShe’ campaign, attended the event.
In her speech, the actress stressed the equality between men and women – and therefore feminism – is a matter that involves both sexes. “The more I talk about feminism, the more I realize that the fight for women’s rights is too often a synonym for hate men. If there’s one thing I know for sure is that it has to stop. ”
Though as Emma Watson recalled the long road that lies ahead for women to receive equal pay for equal economic or political participation, or the right to control their bodies, she also stressed that “men also suffer the equality deficit”.
“We do not often talk about the fact that men are trapped in gender stereotypes, but I can see that this is the case, and if they are released things will change naturally for women. ”
“If men do not feel compelled to be aggressive, women will not feel subjected. If men do not have control, women will not have to be controlled. ”
“I see the role of my father as a parent is less valued by society, even though I needed his presence as well as that of my mother. I see young men suffer from psychological problems and do not seek help for fear of appearing less macho. ”
“I want men to take responsibility. For their daughters, sisters and mothers to be free of bias, but also for their sons to have the right to be vulnerable and human too, find that part of themselves that they have abandoned and thereby can be themselves.”
“If we stop defining ourselves by what we are not and begin to define ourselves by what we are, we will all be free – and that is the meaning of the HeForShe campaign. That is freedom. “
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