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Actor Emma Watson added her starpower to a long list of strong, engaged and successful women lending their voices to advance the principles of global feminism. Watson, known among throngs of young people worldwide as Hermoine Granger in the ‘Harry Potter’ films, spoke at the United Nations on Saturday as part of the launch of a new UN-sponsored   HeForShe campaign, which is aimed at getting men involved in stopping violence against women

“When I was 8, I was confused about being called ‘bossy’ because I wanted to direct the plays that we would put on for our parents. But the boys were not. When at 14, I started to be sexualized 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 males 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?”

As Watson’s speech went viral, the UN ambassador was targeted by those opposing her views and role in women’s empowerment. Not content to debate the merits of her speech, these forces are threatening Emma Watson’s safety and rights to privacy.

Emma Watson targeted by online trolls after UN speech BBC News

Hackers are trying to silence Emma Watson by leaking naked photos — but they only made her voice louder The Guardian

Chris Agius Burke’s ‘Beautiful Bondage’ Images Explore Religion, Sexuality & Gender AOC Salon

Burke’s photos capture the complexity of women’s lives and the conflicting social messages of ‘50 Shades’ surrender and temporary submission with the reality that 40,000 women a year continue to be brutally flogged in Sudan for inappropriate dress.

These soft and submissive portraits of female femininity also contrast with Sunday’s dramatic images by Erin Trieb of Kurdish women fighters taking on ISIS in Syria. The most startling takeaway from these brave women is the headline that ISIS is very afraid of being killed by a woman. Such a death at the hands of a woman denies the male soldier a place in heaven.

Together these two image essays capture the essence of Anne of Carversville’s editorial focus ‘From fashion to flogging, telling women’s stories’. ~ Anne

The Powerful, Bagdad-Born Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid Had A Busier Week Than You Did Good

Hadid’s 2022 FIFA World Cup stadium in Qatar has been called a giant vagina.AOC has long followed the designs of Zaha Hadid because Hadid is at the top of her profession as an architect, and in a profession dominated by Boys Club principles.