Why #HeForShe Matters To Us (and to Tom Hiddleston)

This week Emma Watson rocked our worlds by giving a standing-ovation-worthy speech at the U.N. in support of feminism, launching the #heforshe campaign that calls for men to become supporters and allies of the feminist movement. As Watson explains in her speech:

“If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by who we are we can all be freer and this is what HeForShe is about. It’s about freedom. I want men to take up this mantle,” she said.

Watson spoke and Watson was heard. So far, almost 100,000 men have signed up for the #heforshe movement. Thousands of these men are sharing pictures of themselves on social media proudly holding up signs displaying the hashtag. Amongst these supporters of the movement are actors Simon Pegg, Emile Hirsch, Douglas Booth, and Forrest Whitaker.

The latest famous dude to take up the #heforshe cause is actor Tom Hiddleston. Hiddleston has made his name onscreen being wonderful as Loki in Avengers/Thor, and now he’s taking his wonderfulness to the streets by supporting gender equality.

And here’s what Hiddleston tweeted in support of the cause:

He also shared the video of Watson’s UN speech and in his tweet quoted one of Watson’s best lines: “Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive, both men and women should feel free to be strong.”

#HeForShe is a genius-minded way of including men in the fight for gender equality. This is not a problem that solely effects women, this is an issue that impacts everybody. By giving men a battle cry with which to support the women in their lives, #heforshe not only bolsters the ranks of the gender equality movement, but also helps men understand what a crucial role they play in making the world a safer, fairer, better place for everyone.

I know there are so many men who want to support feminism and gender equality and be a part of these movements but haven’t quite known what their place is in all of this. Well, dudes, you got your hashtag now. If you need a way into the movement, this is it. Welcome aboard the gender equality train!

And bravo, bravo, bravissimo to all the men who have already taken up the cause. Emma Watson IS impeccable and extraordinary, but guess what, Tom Hiddleston, you totally are, too.

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