The former 'Harry Potter' actress talks about facing threats over her gender equality speech, explains the difference between chivalry and sexism, and addresses wage gap and the lack of female representation in Hollywood.
- Mar 9, 2015
AceShowbiz - Emma Watson sat down for a live interview to celebrate International Women's Day. Speaking at the Facebook headquarters in London with BBC Radio 1's Greg James as a moderator, the actress talked about receiving threats after launching "He for She" campaign for gender equality.
"A lot of people close to me knew gender equality was an issue but didn't think it was that urgent," she said. "When they saw that the minute I stepped up and talked about women's rights I was immediately threatened. I mean within less than 12 hours I was receiving threats. I think they were really shocked and one of my brothers in particular was very upset."
"There was a website set up that was threatening to release naked images of me, with like a countdown and whatever else," she opened up. But she was not worried because "the pictures didn't exist." "If they were trying to put me off -- they did the opposite," she said. "If anything, it made me so much more determined. I was raging."
"I read a letter of support from a 13-year-old boy that was equally as passionate as a CEO," she also said. "I asked my younger sister: 'What would be the one thing you'd want from boys in your life?' She said: 'I just want them to play with us.' And I think that really translates at every level. We just want to be included."
Gender equality was not just about women, Emma said, "It's an equality club for both genders." Men are also affected by the issue as "we don't acknowledge how much pressure we put on men to conform to some perception of masculinity."
"I get disturbed by this idea that men can't cry," she dished on. "They can't express themselves and I think that's the saddest thing in the world. Being able to express yourself is what makes you human -- it's not what makes you a girl."
"I actually took a man out for dinner and I chose the restaurant and I offered to pay. It was really awkward and uncomfortable," she shared at one point during the chat. "But the cool thing about it was we were both willing to have the conversation about why it was awkward and why it was uncomfortable. We were able to have the dialogue 'It's OK. I chose the restaurant as it is my favorite restaurant and I would love to pay. But next time you chose the restaurant and you pay.' "
She still appreciates chivalry, but it "should be consensual." "I love having the door opened for me, isn't that just polite?" she explained. "But I think the key is, would you then mind me opening the door for you?"
The UN ambassador also discussed wage gap, "If you know a woman is doing the exact same work as you are, and you know she's being paid less, it would be so cool if you said something about it."
But women were more likely to take maternity leave, asked a man in the audience. "I don't think in the grand scheme of things [maternity leave] is going to hinder a woman being incredibly effective in her field," she replied. "I think men should be equal partners in raising children."
In Hollywood, the lack of female representation at the Academy Awards is a sign to continue the fight for gender equality. "Why are we not telling women's stories? Why are women not telling their own stories?" so Emma said.
