Emma Watson: An Inspiration #2

Everybody knows Emma Watson, the girl who played Hermione Granger in the iconic film series of Harry Potter. Emma always wanted to act, she realized she wanted to be an actress when she was just six years old. Before working for Harry Potter, she had already worked with several local productions. This gets everyone to think, where and when did she study? Emma was a top notch student and she was provided with a set of tutors on movie sets. As a teenager Emma also appeared as a fashionista. During the last two movie premiers of Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows part 1&2, she got enrolled in Brown University but she had to leave as she wanted to film the last two films just for the love of the character Hermione. Watson always wanted an education, not for the degree but for her passion for learning. This is what makes her an inspiration to young girls like me, she wanted to learn even though she didn’t really need an education. She ultimately got a degree in English Literature from Brown University after completing the two films! 

After her education was complete, Emma became a UN Goodwill Ambassador. Emma is the leading feminist at the UN and a role model. Not only is she just the UN Ambassador but she also started the campaign HeForShe which encourages men to support the feminist movements. It also aims to raise awareness about violence and discrimination that women and girls experience all around the world. She also emphasized on men to be treated equally, she claimed that men are potrayed in a way that they are strong and independent with no feelings. But that’s not true, they should be able to express feelings just the way women do. Men should be able to cry without seeming weak and also talk without seeming that they have authority over everyone. She strives for gender equality and also emphasizes giving education to girls who don’t have it! 

In her speech she gave a really meaningful definition of feminism:

"Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women, it’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality.”

Watson also launched a legal advice line for women seeking counsel for issues in sexual harassment in their workplace. She believes that the choices women have after being in such a situation is very important so that women feel safe wherever they work. She also went ahead and started a feminist book club combing the two things she loves to do the most, reading and making the world a better place for women. Many people don’t know that Emma got inspired by a documentary called ‘The True Cost’ and decided to get involved with an ethical clothing line of her own. She promoted sustainable fashion when she was on the red carpet. She is also a qualified yoga and meditation instructor!

That’s just a brief overview about Emma’s life, nobody can even imagine the challenges she must have faced while being a nine year old star surrounded with media, at the same time trying to get an education. Her drive and ambition to achieve her goals and be socially responsible towards uplifting women is what I admire about her. She is a reliable source of equality to both men and women and she inspires people to stand up for what they think is right. 

“I don’t want other people to decide who I am, I can do that for myself” -Emma Watson

Vritti Bhambhvani