HeForShe; A Year in Review

Although the infamous I am a Feminist speech given by Emma Watson was in September of 2014, 2015 has been nothing short of great for the HeForShe campaign. Taking off a little over a year ago, the idea of feminism being for men and women alike has slowly but surely began being planted in young people’s minds thanks to Watson’s speech at the UN. In her speech she formally invited men and boys to the feminist party, because by definition feminism is equality of all genders. How can we achieve gender equality when half of the equation is missing? The idea behind HeForShe is that men help end gender inequality. What many people fail to remember is that men face inequality everyday. I’m not sure if you’ve heard but men can’t cry, they can’t have eating disorders, they cant have anxiety or depression and men can’t be raped. Who was the one that decided these things? We are all human, and humans have the undenied right of individuality and expression. Why can’t men express who they are if who they are is feminine?

After Emma Watson’s speech was posted online, the HeForShe campaign blew up on social media. Men like Benedict Cumberbatch, Harry Styles, Douglas Booth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and many others began posting pictures of themselves holding a sign saying ‘#HeForShe’. The impact that these famous men had started a revolution. This created controversy and started a conversation between men. I believe that this campaign has opened up the minds of men to be able to see that this is no longer a fight for women. This has now become a fight for humanity. Even though we don’t see it everyday on our social media accounts, the HeForShe movement is still going strong. Douglas Booth recently spoke out about men and women refugees from Syria as a part of the HeForShe movement. He has become an ambassador for the cause.

HeForShe is something that needs to become bigger. After this past year, you would think that people would be begging for change; I know we are. No more sitting back and thinking someone else can fix this injustice. It's time for us, as a generation, to fix it. In the long run, every single person on this planet can benefit from equality, whether they want to believe it or not. Many people believe that there should be equality, but they don't support “feminism”. Emma Watson and others have spoken up to educate these people and let them know that feminism isn't all about women dominating over men. The HeForShe Campaign lets people know that feminism isn't what some make it out to be. She gives it a positive connotation, as she should, and has encouraged men and women around the world to join in the fight for equality. 2015 has shed a lot of light on the issue and each and every day is a step forward for humanity.