Emma Watson: Gender Equality is Your Issue too Berit Nilsen, Period:1

Introduction Almost everyone has experienced some sort of inequality because of their gender. From the moment we are born, we are told that we have to dress a certain way, act a certain way, and do certain things because of our gender. Although not everyone sees gender inequality as a real problem, there are many people, all around the world, that do. If you have ever felt like you can’t be yourself or that you have been treated unfairly due to your gender then Emma Watson’s “Gender Equality is Your Issue too” speech will most likely have an empowering effect on you.

Speaker Emma Watson, who is a famous actress and is most known for her role as Hermione in the “Harry Potter” series, is also well known for her ability to speak up on worldly problems. She speaks about many subjects but her most common subject to speak about is gender inequality. She is apart of the “HeForShe” campaign that she helped create with UN Women. Emma Watson is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and is a empowering feminist and role model to men and women all around the world. In her “Gender Inequality is Your Issue too” speech, Watson says “Both men and women should feel free to be strong… It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideals.”

Occasion Emma Watson presented this speech at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 20, 2014. She wrote this speech to persuade her audience at the UN’s special event to join the “HeForShe” campaign. The “HeForShe” campaign was created to “try and galvanize as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for gender equality” and to help fight gender inequality as a whole.

Audience Emma Watson's targeted audience is men and women everywhere who haven't already joined the fight to end gender inequality. Shes also speaking to the people who have already been apart of the fight because she wants to help them to continue doing what they are doing. Watson spoke to her audience at the UN Headquarters to inform them about the new campaign “HeForShe” and to persuade them to join in on the campaign and to speak to others about the campaign in order to gather as many members as possible.

Purpose Emma Watson's purpose of writing her “Gender Inequality is Your Issue too” speech was to persuade as many people as possible into joining the “HeForShe” campaign. In her speech she says “No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality.”, and she is right. Watson wants to make the public aware of the inequalities that have engulfed the world and plagued our society; that is the main reason that she composed this speech.

Subject The subject of this speech is gender inequality and the “HeForShe” campaign. Emma Watson and United Nations Women are working together to stop gender inequality and reverse the negative effects that it has had on our world.

Tone The attitude that Emma Watson takes towards the subject of gender inequality is concern,empowerment, and anger.. This speech contains sarcasm, but is a very serious speech. An example of the of sarcasm and anger in this speech would be when Watson states: “Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive.” In this statement, Watson is referring to some of the stereotypes that come with being a feminist.

Strategy Emma Watson uses her empowering speech as a strategy to convince men and women all over the world to acknowledge gender inequality, and to take a stand against it.

Anecdote “I started questioning gender-based assumptions when i was eight I was confused at being called ‘bossy,’ because I wanted to direct the plays we would put on for our parents---but the boys were not” “When at 14 I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press” “When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear ‘muscly’” “When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings”

Epiplexis “...we have a uniting movement. It is called HeForShe. I am inviting you to step forward, to be seen to speak up, to be the ‘he’ for ‘she’. And to ask yourself if not me, who? If not now, when?”

Irony “Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, to aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive”

Outcome Ever since Emma Watson presented her speech at the United Nations Headquarters in 2014, thousands of males and females have joined the HeForShe campaign.

Citations http://www.cbsnews.com/news/emma-watson-gives-powerful-speech-about- gender-equality-at-united-nations/ https://storify.com/oh_man_nion/emma-watson-s http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2415295/Hermione-knows-cast- spell-Emma-Watson-photoshoot-proves-Potter-star-shed-geeky-image.html http://www.globi-observatory.org/gender-equality-mens-issue-too/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/478085316667567652/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141010152609-138340977-the- barbershop-conference-men-and-gender-equality