Two of our favorite young feminists sat down to discuss gender equality -- and it was awesome.
Actress and UN Women's advocate Emma Watson interviewed Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai about Yousafzai's new documentary "He Named Me Malala" at a screening of the film in England. Watson shared the video of the interview and her thoughts Wednesday afternoon on her Facebook page.
Watson and Yousafzai talked about how 18-year-old Yousafzai only recently started identifying as a feminist and the importance of involving men in the fight for gender equality.
“This word 'feminism' has been a very tricky word," Yousafzai told Watson. "When I heard it the first time, I heard some negative responses and some positive ones. And I hesitated in saying 'am I a feminist or not?' And then after hearing your speech, when you said ‘If not know when? If not me who?’ I decided that there’s nothing wrong by calling yourself a feminist."
In her Facebook post, Watson described this part of the discussion as "perhaps the most moving moment" of the interview. The actress planned to ask Yousafzai if she was a feminist but decided to take the question out at the last minute. To Watson's surprise and "utter shock" Yousafzai put the question back into the conversation by answering it on her own.
She said people have "forgotten" the real definition of feminism, telling Watson in the interview, "I am a feminist and we should all be feminists because feminism is another word for equality.”
Yousafzai used her father as a perfect example that men can and should be involved in the gender equality movement. “My father has set an example to all parents," she said. "If we want equality, if we want equal rights for women then men have to step forward… We all have to work together for change to come.”
“It’s about equality, it’s about feminism, it’s about saying that we’re all human beings. Why would you separate us just because our gender is different?”
Towards the end of the interview, the women's rights activist explained why a person's gender should never hold them back from reaching their goals.
“Your gender should not create any difficulty in the choices that you make," Yousafzai said. "It’s about equality, it’s about feminism, it’s about saying that we’re all human beings. Why would you separate us just because our gender is different?"
Watson reflected on the interview, writing that she's learned that while the feminist movement can be "factionalized," at the end of the day feminists have the same goal.
"Let's not make it scary to say you're a feminist," Watson wrote. "I want to make it a welcoming and inclusive movement. Let's join our hands and move together so we can make real change."
Now this is a feminist duo we'd love to see do more together.
H/T The Guardian
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