Emma Watson: “Feminism, feminism… gender wage gap… why oh why am I not taken seriously… feminism… oh, and here are my tits!” pic.twitter.com/gb7OvxzRH9

— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 1, 2017

Update: Emma Watson responds to the furore and it’s brilliant:

“I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it.”

So, apparently being photographed in the (not even particularly) nude disqualifies a woman from having opinions about equal rights.

At least it does according to English broadcaster and columnist, Julia Hartley Brewer, who, among other Twitter critics, lit up social media with their criticism of this picture from Emma Watson’s cover story for Vanity Fair magazine.

A post shared by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on Feb 28, 2017 at 10:02am PST

The image also appeared on the controversial Page 3 of UK’s tabloid newspaper, The Sun, with the caption “Beauty & the Breasts.”

But why is this the one image we are all paying attention to out of a selection of artistic (and, incidentally, fully clothed) shots taken of Watson by Tim Walker? Why does this image with a partial show of breast garner more attention than Watson’s thoughtful discussion of the artifice of Hollywood, the gender pay gap, a love of literature and becoming a certified meditation teacher among other things?

I think Emma Watson just unintentionally made a pretty powerful point about why we still need feminism right there. 

Some of the best responses on Twitter:

@JuliaHB1 please tell me what the proper feminist uniform is! Should I purchase more pants suits for future magazine spreads?

— Candy Hearts (@CandyHeartsBand) March 1, 2017

.@JuliaHB1 you’re joking aren’t you? A young woman and prominent feminist embracing her sexuality and body and you demonise her?

— Jamie Lambert (@JamieCollabro) March 2, 2017

@Harry_cartoons @JuliaHB1 Assume Julia has a dress code for women to be taken seriously then? Skirt above the knee? Long sleeves? Hijab?

— Carl (@carl_9994) March 1, 2017

@JuliaHB1 Hello, you can be a feminist and also own breasts. Bizarre thought, I know.

— Georgia (@UpAndGeorgia) March 1, 2017

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Relephant: 

This is why we Still Need Feminism.

A Letter to all the Anti-Feminists.

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Author: Khara-Jade Warren