Emma Watson gave a glorious speech at the United Nations several months ago where she launched the HeForShe campaign, which supports gender equality.
Despite the support the UN speech that the 24-year-old “Harry Potter” actress gave in September received from fellow stars including Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift, the actress’ HeForShe campaign has also gained backlash.
17-year-old “Game of Thrones” actress Maisie Williams recently expressed her thoughts on Emma Watson’s UN speech during an interview with The Guardian.
“A lot of what Emma Watson spoke about, I just think, ‘that doesn’t bother me,’” the actress stated, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Williams added, “I know things aren’t perfect for women in the UK and in America, but there are women in the rest of the world who have it far worse.”
The “Games of Thrones” star reportedly called out the campaign as “first-world feminism.”
“There are creepy things that people say online that I shouldn’t have to read, but there are bigger things going on in other countries. I know things aren’t perfect for women in the UK and in America, but there are women in the rest of the world who have it far worse,” explained Williams.
Although Williams may be correct in that women outside of the UK and America have it “far worse,” it’s crucial to note that Watson’s speech wasn’t about drawing focus away from these women. One of the most important parts about Emma Watson’s speech is giving the proper definition to the word “feminism,” which has continuously been misunderstood.
“I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop,” stated Watson at the United Nations.
She continued, “For the record, feminism by definition is: ‘The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.’ It is the the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes.”