HeForShe: The Best Things Emma Watson Said at Her IWD Talk

Yesterday Emma Watson participated in a live Facebook Q & A about the gender equality campaign she fronts, HeForShe.

HeForShe aims to involve men in the fight for global gender equality. In her initial speech to a global audience at a UN event last September, Emma spoke about the pressures of masculinity, saying, ?Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong.?

In the aftermath, she used her celebrity black book to get men like Douglas Booth, Harry Styles and Tom Hiddleston on board and using the dedicated hashtag #HeForShe. So far, that speech has sparked 1.2 billion social media conversations.?Good going Hermione Granger.

Here are some of the best quotes from the actress and gender equality campaigner’s Q & A.

?The minute I stepped up and talked about women’s rights I was immediately threatened??

After last September’s speech, Emma was threatened by internet creeps with the release of private nude images. There was a countdown and extensive media coverage, despite the fact Emma knew no such images existed. Watson said that this reaction was exactly why she is leading HeForShe, saying, ?It’s funny because people think, ?Oh she’s gonna be disheartened by this,? but if anything, it made me so much more determined. I was just raging. It made me so angry, that I was like, ?This, this is why I have to be doing this.??

“I think people associate it with hate. With man hate. And that’s really negative. And I don’t think that’s what feminism is about at all. I think it’s something incredibly positive.”

Ever have a conversation with a female acquaintance only for her to turn around and tell you she’s not a feminist because she doesn’t hate men? Emma knows how you’ve felt. With so many celebrities, such as Katy Perry, disowning feminism, it’s great to see one with such influence embracing the concept in front of a watching world.

?Men think it’s a women’s word, but what it means is that you believe in equality, and if you stand for equality, then you’re a feminist. Sorry to tell you. You’re a feminist. You’re a feminist. That’s it.?

Thank you Emma Watson for a go-to reply for when men neg feminism.

“The key is chivalry should be consensual, both parties should be feeling good about that. I think it’s a problem when people expect things to be a certain way, to follow a certain status quo.”

Perhaps our favourite part of the hour-long exchange was Emma talking about a date where she chose the restaurant and paid the bill. “It was really awkward, it didn’t go down well!? she admitted. However her date, who we’ve been speculating over all morning with targeted Googling, seemed like a stand-up guy. Emma said that they ?were both willing to have the conversation about why it was so uncomfortable.”

Follow Jeanne Sutton on Twitter @jeannedesutun