Rhetorical Analysis Of Emma Watson's Equality For Gender Equality

Emma Watson speech is based around the campaign HeForShe. This is for gender equality not just equal rights for women. She also stresses what feminism really is, and disproves what is thought what it means. Feminism described by her is people wanting equality for both genders, and not like the stereotype of feminism is men shaming because of privilege. She takes the time to stress that if nothing is done now nothing will change until the mid 2000’s. She also formally invites everyone to participate in the HeForShe campaign and to be vocal and speak out for the campaign. She also talks about how men should feel welcomed into speeches and debates about equal rights and not feel like they are not welcomed. Her specific purpose of this speech was to get people to join the cause to end gender inequality. (Watson) Watson wrote this speech because of her past experiences, all the way back to her early childhood of how she was not allowed to direct her school play because she would be too bossy and that is not lady like. To in her teenage years where her male counterparts could no longer express their feeling because it would make them seem less manly and weak. This compelled her to write this speech because she thinks no one should have to endure the pain of not being able to express yourself or not be allowed to do

Pathos is an appeal to the emotions of the audience and their emotional needs. She uses pathos in her speech when she talks about her childhood, and how she couldn’t direct the school play because she was a girl. This appeals to the audience for that one part of their life where they were told they could not do something because of their gender. She also uses the if not me then who and if not now when (Watson) to make it seem like it is everyone’s responsibility to participate in achieving gender equality. This appeals to the emotions of people because everyone has that drive to do what is expected of them.