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It’s Been 5 Years Since Emma Watson Launched The #HeForShe Movement

What’s changed? - by Alley Pascoe
  • 18 Sep 2019
It’s Been 5 Years Since Emma Watson Launched The #HeForShe Movement
Getty

Five years ago, on September 20 2014, Emma Watson stood in front of a podium at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and delivered a speech that incited a worldwide movement.

“I am reaching out to you because I need your help. We want to end gender inequality – and to do that we need everyone to be involved,” she said, directly addressing men around the globe. “Men – I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.”

And so, the #HeForShe movement began: a call to action to men and boys to be advocates for gender equality and allies to their female peers.

Because, as Watson noted, equality isn’t just a women’s issue, it affects blokes too.

“We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes but I can see that they are and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence,” Watson added. “I want men to take up this mantle. So their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too.”

As the slogan tee says: We should all be feminists.

x
Getty

Following Watson’s impassioned speech, actor Benedict Cumberbatch committed to only working on projects where women are paid the same as men.

When Mark Wahlberg was paid $1.5 million for reshoots on the film All The Money In The World – compared to Michelle Williams’ $1,000 – he donated the full amount to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund in Williams’ name, saying, “I one hundred per cent support the fight for fair pay.”

And then there’s that viral clip of Tom Hardy calling out a journalist at a Mad Max press conference for asking if Hardy was bothered by having so many women in a “man’s movie".

Male allies are stepping up in Hollywood – and across workplaces in Australia.

unwomenaust View Profile
37 likes - View Post on Instagram
This year marks the 5th anniversary of the #HeForShe movement! 🎉🎉🎉 What began in 2014 as a pathway for men to commit their support for women's rights and gender equality has now become so much more. Five years on, the #HeForShe movement has become a platform for everyone, regardless of gender to stand in solidarity for a world where we all have equal rights and opportunities. For men, women and gender diverse people to commit to transforming words into actions and accelerating gender equality in their everyday lives. Today we invite you to make the HeForShe commitment in support of the world's women and girls. As we strive for a gender equal world, we are more powerful together. Will you join us? To make the commitment, follow the link in our bio. - #HeForShe5 #WeareHeForShe #genderequality #womensrights #equalrights #humanrights #unwomenaust #unwomen #womensempowerment #equalityforall #equality #foragenderequalworld #HeForSheCommitment #forequality

But, of course, gender inequality is still a huge issue that needs to be addressed.

For one, Harvey Weinstein still isn’t behind bars.

The gender pay-gap in Hollywood is still $1.1 million per film (despite Cumberbatch's pledge), and in Australia women still earn 14 per cent less than men.

As the UN notes, “There is no country in the world that has achieved gender equality.”

To change that, they’re moving the conversation forward, encouraging people of every gender identity and expression to stand together for the #HeForShe movement. It’s not just #HeForShe anymore. Now, it’s ‘We are #HeForShe’.

unwomen View Profile
42.2k likes - View Post on Instagram
Happy Birthday to our Goodwill Ambassador @emmawatson! Thanks for inspiring all of us to do better, speak up, and spark change!

For the next month, UN Women is inviting people around the world to make a pledge to equality.

The commitment is simple: “I am one of the millions who believe that everyone is born free and equal. I will take action against gender bias, discrimination and violence to bring the benefits of equality to us all.”

Join the movement by signing the commitment here: unwomen.org.au/campaign/heforshe/

Change is possible if we stand together. United. In solidarity.

As Watson said all those years ago: “Ask yourself, if not me, who? If not now, when?”

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Alley Pascoe
Alley Pascoe
Alley Pascoe is contributor to marie claire Australia. She spends her days interviewing inspirational women, including career highlights Kasey Chambers, Serena Williams and Julia Roberts (for seven minutes on the phone).

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