Emma Watson sets up feminist book club
Actress Emma Watson has picked a name for her feminist book club after receiving suggestions from fans.
The Harry Potter star and gender equality campaigner took to Twitter.com on Wednesday (06Jan16) to tell her followers she was setting up a book club for feminist literature but she was stuck for a name, and asked them for help.
She wrote, "Hi Team, I want to start a feminist book club but so
far have only brainstormed 'Feminist Book Club' and 'Emma Watson
Book Club'... I am almost certain there is a more inspiring name
out there.... Does anyone have any thoughts ?!
#Emma'sBookClub".
After reading through suggestions, Emma announced the winning name
on Thursday (07Jan16), writing, "I've decided to go with 'Our
Shared Shelf'. @emilyfabb - I absolutely loved this. Thank you,
thank you... Thank you to everyone who came up with ideas and
suggestions. That was VERY cool of you all. More info coming
soon..."
Emma received questions about who she would ask to her club, and
told users J.K. Rowling would "definitely" be invited and Taylor
Swift would be asked to sign up "of course".
Actress Sophia Bush also expressed her interest in joining, by
replying to Emma's announcement with the message, "yes please.
In."
Retired soccer player Abby Wambach also got involved and asked what
the first book would be and Emma suggested feminist Gloria
Steinem's latest autobiography My Life on the Road.
Emma wrote, "@GloriaSteinem just released a new memoir? Thought it
seemed like a good place 2begin (sic)?#MyLifeOnTheRoad"
The actress launched the HeForShe gender equality campaign in her
first speech as a United Nations Women's Global Goodwill Ambassador
in September, 2014, and she spoke against women's reluctance to be
described as feminists.
During her speech, she said, "When, at 14, I started to be
sexualised by certain elements of the media, when, at 15, my
girlfriends started dropping out of their beloved sports teams,
because they didn't want to appear 'muscle-y', when, at 18, my male
friends were unable to express their feelings, I decided that I was
a feminist. And this seems uncomplicated to me. But my recent
research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular
word.
"Women are choosing not to identify as feminists. Apparently, I am
among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong,
too aggressive, isolating and anti-men, unattractive, even. Why has
the word become such an uncomfortable one?"