Picture this: People campaigning for women’s rights. Now, when you are imagining this scene, are the people campaigning men or women? For most people, they would be probably be picturing women. Actually, I did a quick experiment by doing a quick Google search by using the search terms “people campaigning for women’s rights.” To my astonishment, not one picture that came up showed a man in it-they were all women! This is a big problem. Gender inequality should not just be a women’s problem, it is everyone’s problem!

The movement for gender equality was originally thought of to just be a women’s problem. Currently, throughout the world more men are starting to take action, but unfortunately, still the majority of people campaigning are women.

Some men may think it would be seen as weird or “unmanly” to be seen standing up for girls’ rights, but actually, I believe that men would be admired for supporting such an important cause. For example, recently there was an article in The Guardian about a man in the UK who is running a woman’s campaign. The title of the article was “I’m a man running a girls’ rights campaign. So what?” I think that this title really speaks for itself-that men should not be thought less of for taking action on this issue. To read the article you can go to:http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/nov/18/im-a-man-running-a-girls-rights-campaign-so-what.

According to actor and author Terry Crews, “I kind of relate it to slavery. Or even civil rights. Let’s not even go back to slavery, let’s go to civil rights—the people who were silent at the lunch counters, when it was the black lunch counter and the white one or the schools were segregated…and you were quiet. You were accepting it. Same thing with men right now. If you don’t say anything, you are, by your silence—it’s acceptance. I’m not going to be silent.”

By now, you are probably wondering how you can get involved. Well, He For She is an organization and a movement  for gender equality that is encouraging men to get involved. At He For She they believe that everyone should be working to end gender equality, not just half of the population. To get involved with He For She, you can check out their website at http://www.heforshe.org/. On their website they have an action kit and a place for you to donate. Also, at the bottom of their site there is a place for you to click “I agree” where you can join the movement.

Actually, Emma Watson recently gave a speech to the United Nations about He for She. Her speech was extremely moving and she spoke extremely passionately. I thought she was amazing and to watch her speech you can go to:

If we all take a stand, then gender inequality will be a thing of the past!

Thanks for joining me on my journey to change the world!

-Diviya