Pre-reading questions:
- What do you know about feminism?
- Do you know anyone who identifies as a feminist? Discuss.
British actress Emma Watson is one of today’s most popular feminists. Recently tho, she received some harsh criticisms from other feminists following her sexy Vanity Fair magazine cover. Some questioned Watson’s feminism, others called her a hypocrite. Watson defended herself by hinging on the common misunderstanding about what feminism is all about. She said that it’s about freedom, equality and liberty. It’s not a tool other women can use to oppress other women.
Emma Watson truly enjoyed her photo shoot with Vanity Fair. She said that the concept for the photo shoot is really creative. She’s very happy with how beautiful and interesting her photos were. Watson bravely addressed the issues surrounding her sexy Vanity Fair cover while promoting her box office hit movie, Beauty and the Beast. She has gained popularity in the movie adaptations of the famous fantasy novel series, Harry Potter.
Vocabulary:
hypocrite – someone who says s/he has particular moral beliefs but behaves in ways that show these are not sincere
hinge – to make or consider as dependent on
oppress – to govern people in an unfair and cruel way and prevent them from having opportunities and freedom
Comprehension Questions:
- Why has Emma Watson received a lot of criticisms recently?
- What did Emma Watson say to defend herself?
- According to Watson what is feminism about?
- How did Emma Watson find her photo shoot?
- What movie series earned Emma Watson her popularity?
Express Your Opinion:
- Do you agree that revealing photos have nothing to do with feminism? Why or why not?
- Do you think feminism and feminists are important in today’s societies? Discuss.
- What can you say about the people who judged Emma Watson because of her sexy Vanity Fair photo? Explain.