While societies around the world have made significant progress in the fight for gender equality, undoing millennia of repression in the process, the road is long, and there is still much to be done to ensure that women are treated fairly and have the same opportunities in a world that is still very much patriarchal in nature.
Being at the vanguard of the struggle for equality, the HeForShe campaign, launched by Emma Watson, is a bold movement that invites men and people of all genders to work towards equality and stand in solidarity with women.
Emma Watson and the Launch of HeForShe
In 2014, Emma Watson, best known as the actress who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, gave a powerful speech at the UN Headquarters, advocating for equality by launching the UN Women HeForShe campaign. Although more widely known as an actor, Watson had become involved in education initiatives for women as well as humanitarian efforts in places such as Bangladesh and Zambia. She was sought after by Elizabeth Nyamayaro, the founder and head of HeForShe, to be the face of the movement.
Having recently been appointed UN Goodwill Ambassador, Watson spoke on her feminist beliefs and the need to address negative stereotypes that hindered the move towards gender equality.
In her speech, Watson noted the problematic dynamic of feminism becoming perceived as “man-hating,” pointing out that, as a result, many women choose not to identify as feminists, yet in reality, feminism stands for equality and the belief in achieving parity in a world where no country can be said to have achieved complete gender equality.
She extended an invitation to men to be part of the movement for gender equality, saying that gender should be seen as a spectrum rather than two sets of opposing ideals in which both men and women are trapped by perceptions of gender expectations.
The speech garnered massive worldwide attention, especially online, where the video went viral. In the space of two weeks, 1.1 million #HeForShe tweets were registered. Since then, Watson has traveled the world, speaking to and gaining the support of world leaders.
She has used her growing influence to champion the efforts of many other organizations that campaign for women’s rights and empowerment. Such organizations include Girl Up, Malala Fund, CAMFED, and UNICEF amongst many others.
The Growth of a Worldwide Phenomenon
Since the start of the campaign, the HeForShe movement has achieved phenomenal success and worldwide attention, gaining the support of millions. The movement, however, is not just about gaining the support of individuals. Key to the success of HeForShe has also been the commitment of businesses and corporations, as well as efforts by entire communities and even governments.
In so doing, the HeForShe movement has engaged with societies across the world, acting as a catalyst for countless conversations about gender inequality. HeForShe has also helped shape policies within organizations, many of which have launched their own campaigns to address gender issues.
Vodafone is an exemplar in this dynamic, and in 2024 launched its own “1 in 3” campaign aimed at highlighting the issue of domestic abuse. The name refers to the fact that on a global level, approximately one in three women suffer from domestic abuse at least once during their lifetime.
Hashtag Movement Momentum
Recent years have shown the power of social platforms and their ability to generate huge amounts of interest through hashtag movements. They have seen marked success in raising awareness, mobilizing people, and pressuring governments into taking action. Popular hashtag movements often get support from businesses that see opportunity in joining them, improving brand reputation in the process.
HeForShe has added significantly to the online phenomenon and launches hashtag campaigns that run parallel to campaigns that take place outside of the social media realm. One such example was the #MorePowerfulTogether campaign which was highly publicized and generated tens of thousands of gender-equality pledges. Twenty-five iconic landmarks around the world, including the Empire State Building in New York City, the CN Tower in Toronto, and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, switched off half their lights to signify the power that is lost when half the world’s population is underrepresented in society. According to the 2024 HeForShe Alliance Impact Report, more than 560 million social media impressions were generated worldwide.
Other such hashtag campaigns include the #ChangeThePunchline campaign, which challenges misogyny in comedy and entertainment. The #RespectfullyDisruptive campaign is designed to challenge sexism in the workplace and corporate world, while the #JustSayBro challenges patterns in everyday language that contribute to a sexist dynamic.
The #IDo campaign, launched in 2021, encourages boys and men to become positive role models. The tagline, inspired by marriage vows, calls on boys and men to take vows against gender discrimination.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, HeForShe launched the #HeForSheAtHome campaign which focused on gender inequalities brought about by forced societal changes. Central to the campaign were issues of unpaid care work, and the spike in gender-based violence. The campaign called on men to take responsibility in sharing the burden of care in equitable relationships. In India alone, the campaign resulted in over one billion TikTok views.
HeForShe Initiatives
Since its launch, HeForShe has initiated campaigns worldwide to address a host of issues across the social spectrum. These initiatives are not limited to hashtag campaigns; they also exist in the physical world and have had a real impact on the lives of millions of people. They have changed the way we think about gender issues and informed how we change our behaviors and address concerns.
HeForShe Taverns is an initiative in South Africa where there exists a strong dynamic of gender-based violence, especially around taverns and tavern culture. The initiative, which started in the town of Klerksdorp in the North West Province, aims to create a safe space and foster a sense of unity and collective responsibility around the issues of gender-based violence and HIV.
Reaching a wider audience, HeForShe Equality Stories is a collection of short films that highlight the impact that HeForShe supporters have had on their communities. These stories follow the journeys of activists who have pledged to create a more just and equal society, breaking stereotypes and changing themselves and others in the process.
HeForShe has also become a force within the world of sports, partnering with major football clubs such as Spain’s Valencia CF and Turkey’s Fenerbahçe SK. The Fenerbahçe website states that the club organizes awareness workshops for its athletes and employees and participates in increasing the number of women as sportsmen (sic), spectators, managers, employers, and trainers. In doing so, the club also works to eliminate gender stereotypes and sexist chants.
Powerful Advocates
The HeForShe movement has attracted powerful advocates (dubbed HeForShe Champions) who have helped advance the cause of gender equality. In the political sphere, many world leaders have become involved in the HeForShe movement. Of note are Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain, President Michael D. Higgins of Ireland, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Former national leaders include President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone and Prime Minister Stefan Löfvén of Sweden.
The movement has also garnered the commitment of prominent leaders in the corporate world, including Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank, Al Cook, the CEO of De Beers, Ralph Mupita, the president and CEO of MTN, Hisayuki “Deko” Idekoba, the president, CEO & Representative Director of the Board of Recruit Holdings, and Joakim Reiter, the Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer, Vodafone Group.
Global Reach
With a reach that spans the entire globe, the HeForShe campaign has an international footprint that has changed lives and generated much-needed discussion on the issue of gender equality, from closing the gender pay gap to issues on violence against women.
The movement has achieved remarkable success in many areas around the world, and in a wide variety of places. Thanks to HeForShe initiatives, Malawi has fewer child marriages, Kenya has safer universities, Turkey has more inclusive factories, and Iceland has statutory equal pay. Indonesia has integrated social protection to protect women and children from violence, and Sweden has promoted fathers’ use of parental leave to encourage gender equal parenting.
HeForShe partners in the corporate world have increased the number of women in the workplace, management, and senior leadership positions. De Beers has accelerated female entrepreneurship. Standard Bank Group has endeavored to increase the number of female chief executives. The UK Police has worked to increase gender equality in how it looks as well as how it operates. The list goes on, and is growing.
However, the world today is a dynamic and ever-shifting place. While some parts have progressed towards gender equality, others have regressed, and some places, once considered bastions of progressive development, find themselves under threat from governments that wish to roll back advances made over the past few decades. As such, it remains imperative that HeForShe and other such movements maintain a global presence in developed nations and the Global South.
In a global survey conducted in 2020 by YouGov, Emma Watson was found to be the sixth most admired woman in the world. Her role in the HeForShe movement has generated widespread acclaim for her efforts, and her achievements have resulted in her becoming an icon in the quest for global equality. Watson has become a positive role model for millions of people, representing justice in a world filled with challenges that lie in the path of achieving true gender equality.
