The actress Emma Watson is best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies. Since the movie series ended, Watson has been making new headlines not as an actress but as an advocate for gender equality. Last fall she gave a speech at the United Nations that had over 11 million views and 1 billion posts in social media.
Impact 10 x 10 x 10
What is Impact 10x10x10? “It is about engaging governments, businesses and universities and having them make concrete commitments to gender equality.” Watson said at a press conference. The campaign is collecting stories about how people are implementing the concept of gender equality. “Your commitment… is personal. There is no best way. Everything is valid,” Watson said. The global focus of HeForShe is to mobilize boys and men to support gender equality.
HeForShe Three A’s For Equality
- Awareness Education and Sensitization: engaging men globally to stand up and join together is the first step. The HeForShe website shows how many boys and men have signed up to support this initiative. Collectively with the support of men, progress will be made.
- Advocacy Impact Through Policy and Programming: The 10 x 10 x 10 campaign has as objectives: Women’s Economic Empowerment; Ending Violence Against Women; Governance and Leadership; Peace and Security. The implementation is happening through influencers who will help gain recognition beyond the UN and include President Obama and celebrities like Matt Damon.
- Action Fundraising and Other Actions: The campaign 10 x 10 x 10 has multi-lingual action kits that offer “comprehensive implementation guidelines enabling social mobilization for individuals, governments, non-governmental organizations, United Nations agencies, universities and corporations”. Fundraising efforts are underway using social and online tactics.
In the past gender equality was focused largely on what women could do together. Today however, the conversation has shifted to the importance of inclusion of men in order to help make a real change. Watson poses the question in her discussion to fathers if have they supported their daughters to have the same opportunities as their sons and for colleagues in the workplace, did they stand up for a women who was being unfairly treated.
The future begins today
Girls relate to Emma Watson and see her as a role model. She is both inspiring for our daughters and world leaders alike including Prince Harry, Desmond Tutu and Hillary Clinton. Now it is our turn to take this campaign and include it in your own social media posts to help gain momentum.
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