The F-Word

http://www.themarysue.com/emma-watson-uses-the-f-word/

I send out great kudos to Emma Watson for standing her ground and being firm in her beliefs. The article I have linked above is a recent release, exposing how this 25 year old actress and feminist was advised to refrain from saying the word feminism in a speech she was giving to the United Nation’s HeForShe Campaign on the specific topic of women equality and feminism itself! I really liked the quote: “If women are terrified to use the word, how on earth are men supposed to start using it?” I believe this is a very important realization Watson had because it is great evidence of how women must realize the worth and value of their beliefs, otherwise men will simply overlook these types of issues. When women are shy and refrain from being just as firm around men as men are around women, men continue to see a woman who appears to not believe in her equality enough to have a backbone and this thus gives man little to no reason to want to call themselves feminists too.

This reminded me of the part during Persepolis when Marjane stood up against her school board to simply point out the fact that if the women in her class were to follow the new order and wear longer veils, it would negatively interfere with their work. Marjane was called into the office for this and was told to back down from the fight or else there would be consequence. The article above links to this part in the book because I feel it shows a great example of how women are taught to keep their opinions to themselves, even when they are great and helpful opinions.

Unfortunately, women are typically viewed as rude or overbearing when they try to bring up a fair argument and this prevents a lot of women from wanting to be openly opinionated. By doing this to women, it negatively cuts in to the potentially powerful impact they are capable of making.

I am so thankful that Emma Watson was strong enough to take charge of her own speech because her speech has impacted the world. Her use of the word feminism turned out to be extremely powerful to the public instead of segregating the world (like she was warned it would do). Because Emma Watson chose to break down the socially constructed, unspoken rule of women to obey orders, she made great progress for women equality, taught the world the proper definition of feminism, and became a deacon of light for those fighting for equal rights.