Emma Watson has acknowledged her white privilege in an open letter about feminism and race. In 2015, the Harry Potter star was heavily criticised for her comments on white feminism. Now though, she has written an open letter about her past lack of intersectionality.
Watson has championed gender equality throughout her career but found herself battling a Twitter storm back in 2015. Referencing her famous #HeforShe speech at the UN, a fan asked Emma Watson if she considered herself to be a “white feminist”. The actress responded via the social media platform, saying: “White feminism implies an exclusion of black women from the movement which I find surprising because my bosses (and the people who gave me the job) are two black women.”
Feminism is for everybody but that is not the impression you receive from mainstream media. As Guardian journalist, Lola Okolosie points out: “It seems that all feminists are concerned about is a particular type of woman. A woman invariably white and middle-class.”
Emma Watson’s response was heavily criticised at the time, with a number of intersectional feminists informing her that she had “completely misunderstood white feminism. “Just because black women hired you does not mean you can’t be a white feminist,” one informed her. “Please, please, please – reconsider this statement.”
Now, though, Watson has addressed her feelings on the matter – and acknowledged that her “white privilege” was something of a blind spot to her feminist cause. In true Hermione Granger fashion, she made sure to cite the book and author that helped her to realise this: it’s Reni Eddo-Lodge’s Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race.
The book is the first she wants her feminist book club to read for 2018.
“I have since learned that being a feminist is more than a single choice or decision. It’s an interrogation of self. Every time I think I’ve peeled all the layers, there’s another layer to peel. But, I also understand that the most difficult journeys are often the most worthwhile.”
“When I heard myself being called a ‘white feminist’ I didn’t understand. What was the need to define me — or anyone else for that matter — as a feminist by race? What did this mean? Was I being called racist? I began…panicking.”
“It would have been more useful to spend the time asking myself questions like: What are the ways I have benefited from being white? In what ways do I support and uphold a system that is structurally racist? How do my race, class and gender affect my perspective?” she says.
“There seemed to be many types of feminists and feminism. But instead of seeing these differences as divisive, I could have asked whether defining them was actually empowering. But I didn’t know to ask these questions.”
The actress is now encouraging her followers to do the same, insisting: “You’re not alone. And even if you are, in a particular moment…remember you come from a long line of feminists who did this work, in the outside world but also inside themselves.”
“I’ve been discovering so much that, at times, I’ve felt like my head was about to explode… I decided to start a feminist book club, as I want to share what I am learning.”
She added: “The plan is to select and read a book every month. We then discuss the work during the month’s last week (to give everyone time to read it!).
“Whenever possible I hope to have the author, or another prominent voice on the subject, join the conversation.”
You can sign up to Watson’s book club here.
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