Speech Essay

Yese Rangel
Professor Goen
Intro to Comm.
December 8, 2014 Speech Text Analysis The young Emma Watson is a British actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador; she gives an informative speech over gender inequality and the campaign called “HeForShe. The reason for this speech is that the more she is hearing about this matter, the more Emma realizes that fighting for women’s is quite similar if it was towards men. Therefore, in her speech she really tries to reach out to young boys and men. Emma has done research over this topic, but also has real life reasons to her decisions. She is a feminist because of what she has witnessed in the past. When at the age of eight Emma was considered bossy simple because she wanted to direct a production, later her girlfriends no longer wanted to participate in sports due to masculinity, and at age 18, her male friends could not express their feelings. Even after her experiences, she has realized that feminism has diminished in meaning. The introduction of the speech had a great attention getter because Emma pointed out a problem that is usually towards girls, and was asking for help of the audience. While she was introducing the topic, she did not really preview any main points, but only stated the thesis and purpose. In this speech, she is informing the audience on how she was able to speak for this problem she stated, “I was appointed six months ago and the more I have spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.” The audience in at this event had an equal amount of women and men. The transitions in this conclude introducing the campaign (HeForShe) and how it needs to be addressed and brought to attention to the population. Once she inform the problem, she then went on to the era of feminism; and how feminism has become a word that is unpopular to the culture around us. The term is considered an “uncomfortable” word stated by Watson. More and more women have not been choosing to indemnify themselves as feminist due to the remarks made on feminists today. After going on about women's liberation she then discussed why there needs to be gender equality, and what could happen in the future generations if it continued to go any further. The topic of this speech could legitimately make a big impact if it were to follow through. Equal rights should be brought to attention, and Emma gives a good dialogue of the situation. ”Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong… It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideals. If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are—we can all be freer and this is what HeForShe is about. It’s about freedom.” (Watson) Watson shapes great persuasive points throughout the whole speech. It is time for the men and women of the world to be treated the same. Men should not feel the discomfort of being vulnerable, and women should not be judged or fear the want of being strong. Many people do not realize the different stereotypes that are given to men, and that are seen on a daily basis. When is it the turn for men to be able to feel comfortable in their own skin without being judged for what should be happening? As stated in the speech, “If men do not have to be aggressive in order to be accepted women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men do not have to control, women will not have to be controlled.
In this speech Emma W. uses, the speech spoken Hilary Clinton to help support her statements. The speech was given in 1995 and in Beijing about women’s rights, and how the changes that she wanted back then are still a reality today. Another one of the sources included the depth of how men cannot seem to want to ask for help when it is needed. For example, in the UK suicide is the largest killer amongst men varying from the ages of 20-49. Moreover, why is that? It is because men are afraid to ask for attention for the reason that it will take away from their masculinity. I now understand why Emma wants this to be something everyone should be aware of, and how it needs to end.
In this speech, it very much caught my attention especially since every main point had a strong body to go with it to support it. In my opinion, Emma was a great choice to speak for this campaign. It seemed that this subject was a sensitive matter, and she was able to connect with the audience to express her views. In conclusion, I believe that Emma Watson had a great persuasive input on her outlook on gender equality.