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Tag: HeForShe

  • Emma Watson Beatboxes For Womankind

    Emma Watson Beatboxes For Womankind

    Emma Watson will do just about anything to promote gender equality.

    In the past, Emma Watson has made some impressive speeches and appeared at many events for women’s rights and her HeForShe campaign.

    Well, now Emma Watson can add beatboxing to that list.

    Emma Watson appeared with Hamilton mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda for a National Women’s Day video about gender equality.

    Miranda, after some rather heavy discussion, challenged Emma Watson to beatbox while he freestyle rapped about gender equality.

    Emma Watson was clearly uncomfortable with the idea, but went ahead with it anyway.

    When Lin-Manuel Miranda asked if they ever beatboxed on the set while filming the Harry Potter movies, Emma Watson quipped, “English school kids, that’s what we do all the time… beatbox.”

    Miranda got Emma Watson started, then came in with his rap, saying in part, “Yo, it’s Lin and I have to laugh because we are all half. Women are half of the people on Earth. And yes, they should’ve been equal since birth.”

    After they were done, Emma Watson said she was embarrassed and, “I’m literally the color of a tomato.” (Pronounced like toe-mah-toe. So adorable.)

    What did you think about Emma Watson and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s gender equality rap?

  • Emma Watson Announces She’s Leaving Acting–for One Year

    Emma Watson, the actress best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series of films, is taking a year-long break from her acting career in order to focus on feminism. She has been very vocal on the topic for a couple of years, so she wants to become better versed in it, and help others do the same.

    According to a report from E! News, Watson spoke with author and activist bell hooks in an interview with Paper magazine about how she plans to spend the year she is taking away from her career.

    “I’m taking a year away from acting to focus on two things, really,” Emma Watson said. “My own personal development is one…My own personal task is to read a book a week, and also to read a book a month as part of my book club.”

    The book club Emma Watson referenced is called Our Shared Self. She connected with the group via Twitter.

    “I’m doing a huge amount of reading and study just on my own,” Watson said. “I almost thought about going and doing a year of gender studies, then I realized that I was learning so much by being on the ground and just speaking with people and doing my reading…I actually wanted to keep on the path that I’m on. I’m reading a lot this year, and I want to do a lot of listening.”

    Also as part of her year off, Emma Watson is organizing some projects with her HeforShe program. She launched this initiative as U.N. goodwill ambassador, enlisting men in the fight for gender equality. She has an arts week and a university tour planned, as well as a new website in the works.

    “I’m on my journey with this and it might change, but I can tell you that what is really liberating and empowering me through being involved in feminism is that for me the biggest liberation has been that so much of the self-critiquing is gone,” she added. “Engaging with feminism, there is this kind of bubble now that goes off in my head where these really negative thoughts about myself hit where I’m able to combat them in a very rational and quick way.”

    Emma Watson hopes to empower other women in this way, too.

    How do you suppose Emma Watson’s fans are reacting to word she is taking a one-year leave from acting? Aside from missing her, they are likely proud of her ambitious endeavors.

  • Emma Watson Praises Douglas Booth For UN Gender Equality Speech

    Emma Watson praised actor Douglas Booth for a speech he gave on Wednesday for UN Women, the UN entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

    Watson told Booth on Twitter that she’s “very proud” to call him her friend.

    The speech was part of the HeForShe GetFree University Tour at the London School of Economics. Booth urged students to get involved with HeForShe movement and “take action toward gender equality.”

    You can watch the key remarks here:

    Emma Watson recently made headlines for speaking up about sexism in Hollywood. She also talked about how men can be feminists and how women are “just as guilty of discriminating against women.”

    Watson has also worked with the UN on the issue of gender equality.

  • Salma Hayek Calls Hollywood Sexism “Incredible Ignorance”

    Salma Hayek Calls Hollywood Sexism “Incredible Ignorance”

    Salma Hayek was on hand Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival to offer her opinion on the gender-biased situation in Hollywood.

    Salma Hayek was on location at the festival to support her film, A Tale of Tales. At an event during the weekend hosted by Variety and co-hosted the by the U.N. Women’s HeForShe campaign, Salma Hayek shed some light on how Hollywood views women actors.

    She said, “For a long time they thought the only thing we were interested in seeing were romantic comedies. They don’t see us as a powerful economic force, which is an incredible ignorance.”

    Salma Hayek did point out that there is a niche in the film industry where women make more money than their male counterparts, but it’s not something to brag about.

    Press for TALE OF TALES #cannes2015 #TaleofTales

    A photo posted by Salma Hayek Pinault (@salmahayek) on

    She said, “The only kind of movie where women make more than men is the porno industry. It’s simple ignorance.”

    Actress Parker Posey was also at the event and contributed examples from the past as to the greatness that women in film could have if given the chance.

    She spoke of women in the films of the 1940’s, who were witty and complicated. She said, “It’s so rare that I see that in movies now. We’re in very masculine times. We’re at war. The culture is eating nature, it’s overpowering storytelling.”

    They have me doing interviews back to back… But I managed to chow this chicken down in 2 minutes . #TaleofTales #cannes2015

    A photo posted by Salma Hayek Pinault (@salmahayek) on

    Salma Hayek closed with a message to other women who are being oppressed in Hollywood. She said, “Look, we cannot stand as victims and say they are not looking at us.”

    She added, “What gives me hopes is that we are in a position of power. And I am so grateful to gay men. If it wasn’t for Tennessee Williams and Pedro Almodovar, it would be even worse.”

    What do you think about Salma Hayek’s statements about sexism in Hollywood?

  • Emma Watson Inspires Men To Take Up Fight For Women

    Emma Watson spoke on gender equality again, this time at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday, to promote the UN Women’s HeForShe IMPACT 10X10X10 pilot initiative.

    The former Harry Potter star and UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador thanked some big names for their involvement after her first speech back in September.

    Emma Watson congratulated Prince Harry, Yoko Ono and Hillary Clinton on the initiative they have all taken since first launching the HeForShe campaign.

    Emma Watson elaborated on the progress made and the encouragement she has had to keep pushing forward in the fight for gender equality.

    Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and I! Stand up for gender equality at www.heforshe.org

    A photo posted by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on

    She said, “I’ve had my breath taken away when a fan told me that since watching my speech, she has stopped herself from being beaten up from her father.”

    She added, “I’ve been stunned by the amount of men in my life that have contacted me since my speech to tell me to keep going.”

    Emma Watson, a self-proclaimed feminist, went on to urge others to continue the fight, as well.

    She said, “It is my belief that there is a greater understanding than ever that women need to be equal participants in our homes, in our societies, in our governments and in our work places. And they know that the world is being held back in every way because they are not.”

    She added, “Women share this planet 50/50, and they are under represented, their potential astonishingly untapped.”

    Emma Watson went on to state her purpose and the purpose every audience member should undertake. She said, “The groundswell of response we have received in support for HeForShe tells us we are tapping into what the world wants: to be a part of change.”

    She added, “Now we have to channel that energy into purposeful action.”

    What do you think of Emma Watson’s speech? Are you inspired?

  • Emma Watson, Matthew Janney Call It Quits

    Emma Watson and her boyfriend of about one year, Matthew Janney, have called it quits. The Harry Potter star (Watson is best known for her role in the film series as Hermione Granger) and the Oxford hunk are through.

    According to a report from Us Weekly, the split was a mutual one.

    Emma Watson and Matthew Janney first went public with their relationship in January. They were spotted enjoying a Caribbean vacation together.

    It’s a bit uncertain as to the reason for the break up, but sources say Emma Watson has “moved on and is currently busy with work and her lining up some philanthropic pushes.”

    Watson is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, and she helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe. The campaign calls for men to advocate for gender equality.

    Emma Watson is currently at work filming her upcoming drama, Colonia Dignidad, in both Argentina and Germany. The film, which is based on a true story, tells the tale of a German wife (played by Watson) who is searching for her kidnapped husband. The plot takes place back in 1973 under the dictatorship Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet. The film also stars Daniel Bruhl and Michael Nyqvist.

    Matthew Janney plays for the Oxford rugby team, and is said to have led his teammates to a recent victory just days ago.

    While it’s sad to see any couple part ways, at least the split between Emma Watson and Matthew Janney is an amicable one. Perhaps the actress–who has grown from a gangly girl into a beautiful young woman–will find yet another of those proverbial fish in the sea.

    Who might you suggest for a new beau for Emma Watson? Is there anyone in the Hollywood loop who would pair well with the Perks of Being A Wallflower star?

  • Emma Watson Gives Inspiring HeForShe Speech

    Emma Watson may be best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, but she is working on making a new name for herself.

    Watson was recently named a U.N. Women’s Goodwill Ambassador and has been working hard on the HeForShe campaign.

    Watson claims that she is trying to remove any stereotypes associated with feminism and trying to encourage men to stand up for the rights of women.

    She recently spoke about the campaign to an audience of delegates and representatives and explained why she feels so deeply about feminism and is happy to call herself a feminist.

    “Why has the word become such an unpopular one?” Watson said of feminism.

    “I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that affect my life. I think it is right that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men.”

    Watson has delivered many other moving speeches on the topic in the past and it seems like she is getting a lot of people to listen.

    The U.N. recently added their first male U.N. Women’s ambassador, Farhan Akhtar, who will be working on the HeForShe campaign with Watson and other ambassadors. Akhtar is a Bollywood star and his popularity is likely to draw some more attention to the already popular campaign.

    Do you think Watson is a good ambassador and do you think Akhtar will make a difference for the campaign?

  • Emma Watson on Feminism and Her Mother

    Last month Harry Potter actress Emma Watson made waves when she spoke at the HeForShe global solidarity movement about the importance of feminism. Standing in the U.N. headquarters in New York City, the 24-year-old called on men and boys around the world to join the movement for gender equality.

    “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 — reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and in doing so be a more true and complete version of themselves,” she said.

    The video of her speech went viral almost immediately. But despite her composure, Watson said that she was “very nervous.”

    “It wasn’t an easy thing for me to do,” she said. “It felt like: ‘Am I going to have lunch with these people, or am I going to be eaten? Am I the lunch?’”

    In fact, fame isn’t something that Watson is very comfortable with. But she says that taking up a cause like this is her way of “making sense of the fame, of using it.”

    “I have found a way to channel it towards something else, which makes it so much more manageable for me,” she said. “And this is something I really believe in.”

    When she took the stage at the U.N., she addressed her goal in front of a large crowd.

    “You might be thinking who is this Harry Potter girl?” said Watson. “And what is she doing up on stage at the UN. It’s a good question and trust me I have been asking myself the same thing. I don’t know if I am qualified to be here. All I know is that I care about this problem. And I want to make it better.”

    In December, Watson will appear on the cover of ELLE’s feminism-themed issue.

    “Feminism is not here to dictate to you,” she says in the interview. “It’s not prescriptive, it’s not dogmatic. All we are here to do is give you a choice. If you want to run for President, you can. If you don’t, that’s wonderful, too.”

    In the ELLE interview, Watson also mentions that her upbringing helped influence her current ideas.

    “I’m lucky I was raised to believe that my opinion at the dinner table was valuable,” she says. “My mum and I spoke as loudly as my brothers.”

    Watson’s September speech at the U.N. ended with a standing ovation.