EMMA WATSON gave a speech at the UN this weekend, about how she sees feminism in our society – and why it’s an issue for men too.

She won a full standing ovation:

It’s now going viral on Twitter, and on news sites around the world.

Watson spoke openly about the issues young women face, telling an audience of delegates:

When at 14 I started being sexualised by certain elements of the press. When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear ‘muscly’. When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings.

But mainly, she described how gender inequality is an issue for men, too, saying:

I’ve seen my father’s role as a parent being valued less by society despite my needing his presence as a child as much as my mother’s.

Speaking in her role as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, the actress was helping to launch the HeForShe campaign aiming to involve men in the struggle for gender equality.

She finished her speech with these words to men who believe in equality:

I am inviting you to step forward. To be seen, to speak up. To be the ‘he for she’. And to ask yourself: If not me, who? If not now, when?

You can read the full speech here.

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