Emma Watson is the Reason Malala Calls Herself a Feminist

Emma Watson interviewed Nobel Prize laureate and global activist Malala Yousafzai ​at the Into Film Festival on Wednesday to discuss the new documentary ​He Named Me Malala and make your dreams come true. 

They touched on the advocacy work for which 18-year-old Yousafzai was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize and the issue of feminism, and Yousafzai told Watson that the actress is the reason that she now calls herself a feminist. 

"It has been a tricky word," she told Watson. "When I heard it the first time I heard some negative responses and some positive ones. I hesitated in saying am I feminist or not. Then after hearing your speech [at the U.N.], I decided there's no way, and there's nothing wrong by calling yourself a feminist. So I'm a feminist and we all should be a feminist because feminism is another word for equality." 

Watson — ​lit from within, as usual —​ recounted the moment in a Facebook post, writing: 

Maybe feminist isn't the easiest word to use... But she did it ANYWAY. I think this gesture is so emblematic of what Malala and I went on to discuss. I've spoken before on what a controversial word feminism is currently. More recently, I am learning what a factionalised movement is it too. We are all moving towards the same goal. Let's not make it scary to say you're a feminist. I want to make it a welcoming and inclusive movement. Let's join our hands and move together so we can make real change. Malala and I are pretty serious about it but we need you.

Watch the perfection in motion, here: 

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