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.
Interpretation
Feminism is about believing in equality between genders, not just a women's issue.
In this quote, Emma Watson emphasizes that feminism should not be dismissed as a 'women's word' and that anyone who believes in equality between genders is, by definition, a feminist. She challenges the traditional misconceptions surrounding feminism and invites everyone to embrace the label if they support equal rights and opportunities for all, thus promoting a broader understanding of what feminism truly represents.
In practice
During a women's rights panel discussion to highlight the importance of gender equality.
Becoming yourself is really hard and confusing, and it's a process. I was completely the eager beaver in school, I was the girl in the front of the class who was the first person to put her hand up, and it's often not cool to be the person that puts themself out there, and I've often gotten teased mercilessly, but I found that ultimately if you truly pour your heart into what you believe in - even if it makes you vulnerable - amazing things can and will happen.
Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. 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.
I've never wanted to grow up too fast. I wanted to wear a sports bra until I was 22! ... The allure of being sexy never really held any excitement for me. I've never been in a terrible rush to be seen as a woman.
Don't be ashamed if you don't like what others pretend to love
Feminism is not here to dictate to you. 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. I’m lucky I was raised to believe that my opinion at the dinner table was valuable. My mum and I spoke as loudly as my brothers.
It's almost like the better I do, the more my feeling of inadequacy actually increases, because I'm just going, 'Any moment, someone's going to find out I'm a total fraud, and that I don't deserve any of what I've achieved. I can't possibly live up to what everyone thinks I am and what everyone's expectations of me are.'
Whether women are better than men I cannot say - but I can say they are certainly no worse.
I have to say that the traditional role is kind of a myth. I think the traditional Mexican woman is a fierce woman.
I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be.
This idea of doing it all is the enemy of equality, not the path to do it. It's impossible to do two full-time jobs, and an impossible definition of success is just another way of making women feel like failures... Any definition of success has to include social policies that honor families and men who raise babies as much as women do.
Our culture needs to find a robust image of female success that is first, not male, and second, not a white woman on the phone, holding a crying baby.
All my battles were with male egos. I’m just looking for equality, not to dominate. But I want to be able to control my vision.
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