Emma Watson’s feminist campaigning career kicked off today at Davos, as the actress addressed business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on the topic of equality, lobbying for governments, universities and companies to join her HeForShe initiative. Because she’s a total boss and flawless and we love her.
HeForShecalls on men and boys to stand up against sexism and inequality around the world, and today Emma reiterated the incredible response the campaign has had so far. The conference was watched over 11 million times, and started 1.2 billion social media conversations, which basically means that something big is happening.
‘We need all-country leadership, as well as that of hundreds of universities and corporations, to follow HeForShe’s IMPACT 10X10X10 so as to bring an end to the persisting inequalities faced by women and girls globally,’ she said, with a slightly quavering voice but totally steady resolve.
The IMPACT 10X10X10 is the outline of HeForShe’s first year, stating: ‘The new campaign IMPACT 10X10X10 is a one-year pilot effort that aims to engage governments, corporations and universities as instruments of change positioned within some of the communities that most need to address deficiencies in women’s empowerment and gender equality,’ she said.
‘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. And that they want to make sure that their daughters will still be alive to see a world where women have power and equality, economically and politically.’
Heartening that men are getting on board, because sexism is something that needs attacking from all angles. ‘I’ve had my breath taken away when a fan told me since watching my speech she has stopped herself being beaten up by her father. We are tapping into what the world wants: to be a part of change. Now we have to channel that energy into purposeful action,’ she added.
In a world where outrage seems to be the currency for change, where people take to Twitter to yell at each other and point fingers and aggressively denounce women for ‘not being good enough feminists’, it’s refreshing that this is a campaign based on optimism, hope and the notion that, actually, we all want the world to be a better place for women.
‘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,’ she concluded . ‘They know that the world is being held back in every way, because they are not. Women share this planet 50/50 and they are under-represented, their potential astonishingly untapped.’
2015 is going to be an interesting year for change, if HeForShe is anything to go by. Support the movement via the site, or through use of the hashtag #heforshe.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.