Maisie Williams Takes on Emma Watson's Brand of Feminism
Maisie Williams goes head-to-head with Emma Watson. Photo: Getty Images
When Emma Watson addressed the United Nations advocating for gender equality in September, she became one of this year’s main faces of feminism. Her beliefs, delivered eloquently, echoed the voice of many, and her words quickly went viral. She helped define the contentious word for a generation of people that has twisted its meaning, turning it a loaded term that too many people—both male and female—are scared to touch. And while the 24-year-old received heaps of praise, she was also met with detractors. Most recently, Maisie Williams.
The Game of Thrones star, 17, just told The Guardian that what Watson preached was a kind of “first-world feminism” that doesn’t apply to the masses. “A lot of what Emma Watson spoke about, I just think, ‘that doesn’t bother me,’” she said. “I know things aren’t perfect for women in the UK and in America, but there are women in the rest of the world who have it far worse.”
Williams points out that there are “bigger things going on in other countries” and has publicly supported causes like cyberbullying and breast cancer. Williams is right of course, there are issues impacting millions of global citizens every day that rank higher on the world’s list of problems than gender equality . At any given moment there are terrorist attacks in Pakistan, Ebola taking a toll on thousands of Africans, hostage situations, racial conflicts, and wars. But that’s not a good enough reason to put Watson down for expressing her beliefs. In fact, that’s counter to what feminism and women’s rights stands for.
Watson never said she didn’t want to face and fix the larger troubles facing society. In fact, she asked, “How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?” The root of many dilemmas don’t necessarily stem from sexism and gender biases, but in order to take action, a united front is stronger than a divided one.
Related: When Did Feminism Become a F-Bomb?
Williams also contradicts herself. By saying that Watson—whose speech laid the groundwork for a conversation among young people that simply stated that the definition of feminism is plain and simple equality of the sexes—is a “first-world feminist,” she is, in essence, acting holier than the basic explanation of the theory and, in fact, acting as the privileged kind of feminist she’s putting down.
At least Williams, who is still a teenager, defines herself as a feminist. Many celebrities who have powerful and influential voices avoid the prickly attribution. Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Madonna, and more women who have millions of followers that look up to them, have all flat out said they don’t associate themselves with feminism. Even if Williams is a little out of touch, at least she has a solid foundation.
