Now I’m sure each and every one of you listened to Emma Watson’s speech at the United Nations. And what a speech it was!

At the time of the speech I happened to be at work, and there was a murmur around the office to the effect of “haha isn’t she the Harry Potter girl?”. While Emma Watson made her claim to fame through the Harry Potter series, few people know about Emma’s achievements behind the scenes, which ultimately lead to her being appointed as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations.

One point from her speech which stood out the most to me was the definition of Feminism. Each time I have thought about the concept of feminism in the past, i’ve always pictured a bunch of women marching through the streets carrying signs, protesting for women’s rights. But as I’ve grown up, I’ve learned that feminism is so much more than that. As Emma stated “Feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities”.

I’m not sure where the majority of Jscholars stand on this topic, but I know that I myself, support the #heforshe campaign 150%. As a passionate young journalist, I understand the difficulties both men and women face in the workforce. I will admit that I have been slightly concerned about job opportunities for myself and other women alike, as I approach the end of my studies at Jschool. Will I be paid the same amount as another young male journalist? Or will he be paid more because he has been given a dangerous assignment in the middle east (for example) ?

I’d love to know how everyone is feeling about this as we are getting oh so close to finishing our studies!