The decade’s 7 major feminist speeches

7 feminist speeches that marked the decade

The Slut Walk movement said "no" means "no"

The Slutwalk movement itself began in Toronto in 2011, after a police officer suggested to women that they should “avoid dressing like sluts” as a precaution against sexual assault. The comment, seen as symptomatic of a wider tendency of victim-blaming, provoked a backlash against the propagation of “rape culture”, resulting in the first of a series of Slutwalk protest marches that have since grown into a widespread global movement.

Malala Yousafzai called on the world to protect girls' education

The Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban, delivered a powerful address to the United Nations in New York 2013, calling on governments around the world to provide every child with free education and denouncing the terrorists who attacked her.

Emma Watson's stirring call for equality

Watson's stirring gender equality speech at the UN headquarters in 2014 landed her the most recognition for her work as a feminist. In the now viral speech, Emma Watson encouraged men to make feminism their cause as well.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's humorous take-down of gender roles

The book she authored in 2015 ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ includes anecdotes and analyses about what it means to be a feminist. She argues that "feminist" isn't an insult, but rather a label that should be embraced by all.

A teenage poet in India slams the patriarchy

Aranya Johar in 2017 used social media to draw attention to serious issues like gender equality, mental health and body positivity. She uses slam poetry to confront beauty standards. Her first released piece, “A Brown Girl's Guide to Gender” became a viral sensation and hit 1 million views within two days of its upload.

Natalie Portman's heart-rending #MeToo speech

Natalie Portman revealed at the 2018 Women’s March in Los Angeles her first-ever fan letter was from a man describing his rape fantasy. She was 13.

An Argentinian lawmaker's courageous call to legalize abortion

In 2018, Silvia Lospennato, PRO member and representative of the Buenos Aires Province in the Lower House, left no question as to how she would vote that morning. More surprising, however, was the standing ovation that she garnered from representatives across the political spectrum as she closed the more than 20-hour debate with a moving acknowledgement of the historical significance of the moment.

Brut.