Perpetuating Pop Culture Postfeminism: A Feminist Analysis of Emma Watson’s UN Address

• In Event: Redefining the Feminist Identity in Today's World

Abstract

On September 20th, 2014, Emma Watson delivered an address to the United Nations for the launch of UN Women’s HeForShe campaign. Though it was written for a specific event and gained wide reception due to the setting of the UN and Watson’s notability, the speech is shaped by the context of modern feminism, competing postfeminist discourse, and a tradition of celebrity advocacy. Through feminist and ideographic critical lenses, I argue that Watson’s speech successfully reframes as a beneficial movement, and effectively reconstructs gender expectations. However, it falls short of fulfilling third wave feminist goals by reverting to male-centeredness and missing opportunities to unite the feminist movement through advocacy of intersectionality. Ultimately, Watson’s emphasis on responding to the criticism of postfeminist discourse results in a misuse of celebrity diplomacy that shifts the attention of the feminist movement to men on an international stage, while actively disregarding intersectionality and global perspectives. 

Author

• Brelynn Hess, Willamette University