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Fem-men-ism: HeForShe invites boys to fight like a girl

(Photo credit: heforshe.org
In the past month, a lot has changed on the feminism front.

And while all of us at GL would like to think people are changing their perspectives on feminism because of our own article on the topic (imagine T-Swift and Emma Watson acting like BFFs and discussing it during a lunch date… what a world), the actual reason is even cooler: people are reaching the realization individually.

Well, maybe with some help from Emma Watson, too.

Taylor Swift, in an interview with the Guardian about a month ago, corrected her view of feminism that she famously told the Daily Beast in 2012. Back then, she said she didn’t think of herself as a feminist because she didn’t really care about “guys versus girls.”

However, Tay is changing her tune, realizing that she has a more sound understanding for feminism. 

“As a teenager, I didn’t understand that saying you’re a feminist is just saying that you hope women and men will have equal rights and equal opportunities,” said Swift. “What it seemed to me, the way it was phrased in culture, society, was that you hate men. And now, I think a lot of girls have had a feminist awakening because they understand what the word means. For so long it’s been made to seem like something where you’d picket against the opposite sex, whereas it’s not about that at all.”

Just the other day, in an interview with French-Canadian talk show Tout Le Monde En Parle, Taylor spoke about the feminism topic again, this time in regards to Emma Watson’s speech at the United Nations (UN) about a week ago to launch the “HeForShe” campaign, which is about gender equality through efforts of all genders.

“I wish when I was younger, I wish when I was 12-years-old, I had been able to watch a video of my favorite actress explaining in such an intellectual, beautiful, poignant way the definition of feminism,” explained Taylor. “Because I would have understood it. And then earlier on in my life I would have proudly claimed I was a feminist because I would have understood what the word means.”

So, just how did Watson explain feminism? By it’s exact definition, of course.

“For the record, feminism by definition is: ‘The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes,’” said Watson, before going on to explain her own experiences with feminism.

“I started questioning gender-based assumptions when at eight I was confused at being called “bossy,” because I wanted to direct the plays we would put on for our parents—but the boys were not,” she said. “When at 14 I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press. When at 15 my girl friends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear ‘muscly.’ When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings.”

Emma reached out to guys and gals to rid of the notion that feminists are “too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and unattractive,” instead focusing on what really matters: the fight for equality.

And what better way to do this than to do it together, no matter your gender?

Not only did Taylor Swift love the speech, but tons of other celebrities are reaching out and showing their support for the campaign. From Harry Styles to Prince Harry, and Troian Bellisario to Camila Cabello, all our favorites are standing with Emma to take on inequality hand-in-hand.

Check out how some of them showed their support below!

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    Logan Lerman, who co-starred with Emma Watson in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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    Chloë Grace Moretz, most recently known for her role in If I Stay
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    Prince Harry
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    Gregg Sulkin, formerly on Disney Channel and now starring in MTV show Faking It
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    Harry Styles from One Direction
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    James McVey from the Vamps
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    Troian Bellisario from Pretty Little Liars
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    Camila Cabello from Fifth Harmony
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    David Tennant, the 10th Doctor in the Doctor Who series and Barty Crouch Jr. in the movie adaptations of Harry Potter

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by Kate Radin | 2/1/2016
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