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Emma Watson sets up feminist book club

Written by . Published: January 07 2016

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?"

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