Emma's definition of feminism is spot-on, says Taylor
Emma Watson has received tons of support following her powerful speech about gender equality and the kick-off of the HeForShe campaign. Her latest cheerleader? Taylor Swift.
Speaking on French Canadian TV show Tout le Monde en Parle, Taylor praised the actress's efforts as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, explaining how moved she was by Emma’s determination to bring awareness of issues such as the equal pay gap and forced marriage, to a wider, global audience.
'I wish when I was 12 years old, I had been able to watch a video of my favourite actress explaining in such an intellectual, beautiful, poignant way the definition of feminism,’ Taylor explained, ‘Because I would have understood it and then earlier on in my life I would have proudly claimed that I was a feminist.'
'I just think that a lot of girls don’t know the definition and the fact that Emma got up and explained it, I think it’s an incredible thing and I am happy to live in a world where that happened.'
Emma launched the HeForShe campaign at the United Nations’s New York headquarters just over a week ago, and has already gained support from both male and female celebrities including Matt Damon, Douglas Booth and Cara Delevingne.
Fashion house Chanel also got behind Emma, who is one of the brand’s front-row regulars, on Tuesday, by sending a supermodel army of feminist protestors (complete with HeForShe placards and coordinating handbags) down their SS15 runway.
'It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals,’ Emma said in her address to the United Nations conference. We should stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are.'
'The more I spoke about feminism, the more I realised that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain is that this has to stop.'
‘When they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence. If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t be compelled to be submissive. If men don’t need to control, women won’t have to be controlled. Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong.’