Celebrate Hermione's Birthday with Emma Watson's Most Powerful Quotes About Feminism

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Hermione turns 38

Accio, birthday wishes. On Sept. 19, 1979, Hermione Jean Granger was born. Audiences, of course, didn't meet Hermione until J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, when the young Muggle-born witch rode the Hogwarts Express with Harry Potter. But in the years since, Hermione has become a symbol of strength and wisdom, both thanks to Rowling's writing and Emma Watson's onscreen portrayal of the character in the Harry Potter films. Ahead, celebrate Hermione's birthday with some of Watson's best quotes about feminism.

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Emma Watson on gender equality

"The Circle" Paris Photocall At Hotel Le Bristol In Paris — Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

"I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights. No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality." -- Emma Watson to the U.N. in 2014

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Emma Watson on gender equality

"Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong." -- Emma Watson to the U.N. in 2014

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Emma Watson on the meaning of feminism

102nd White House Correspondents' Association Dinner - Arrivals — Kris Connor/FilmMagic

For Watson, feminism is "not about us convincing you that gender equality is worth engaging in only because there might be something in it for you, or in it for your sister or your mother. The question is, what's in it for humans? Happier, healthier, more successful children? Being able to take proper paternity leave and see your baby? Being able to talk to someone if you're feeling sh--? Actually getting to be yourself? Getting asked out by a woman? Better sex? A marriage that is a true partnership? More diverse and interesting perspectives in art, culture, business, and politics? Getting to crowdsource all the innovation and genius in the world, not just half of it? A highly increased number of safe, confident and fulfilled people on the planet, particularly women? World peace? Seriously. World peace!" -- Emma Watson to Esquire in 2016

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Emma Watson on pay equality

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1, Emma Watson, 2010. ©2010 Warner Bros. Ent. Harry Potte — Everett Collection

"We are not supposed to talk about money because people will think you're 'difficult' or a 'diva.' But there's a willingness now to be like, 'Fine. Call me a 'diva,' call me a 'feminazi,' call me 'difficult,' call me a 'First World feminist,' call me whatever you want, it's not going to stop me from trying to do the right thing and make sure that the right thing happens.' Because it doesn't just affect me, it affects all the other women who are in this with me, and it affects all the other men who are in this with me, too." -- Emma Watson to Esquire in 2016

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Emma Watson on what it means to promote feminism

"Beauty and the Beast" China Premiere — VCG via Getty Images

"Here's what I think. Feminism is not here to dictate to you. It's not prescriptive, it's not dogmatic. All we are here to do is give you a choice." -- Emma Watson to Elle U.K. in 2014

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Emma Watson on being a feminist

"We want to empower women to do exactly what they want, to be true to themselves, to have the opportunities to develop. Women should feel free. There is no typical feminist, there is nothing anywhere that says you have to meet a certain [set of] criteria." -- Emma Watson to Elle U.K. in 2014

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Emma Watson on how women push to succeed

2015 Time 100 Gala — Andrew Toth/FilmMagic

"Women and girls have always faced hurdles. But that's never stopped us. We've sacrificed, fought, campaigned, succeeded, been knocked back, and succeeded again. In a race for justice, we've leapt over countless obstacles to win our rights." -- Emma Watson in 2016 short film Hurdles

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Emma Watson on the flexibility of feminism

HeForShe 2nd Anniversary Reception — Rob Kim/Getty Images

"Feminism can be humorous, and we all have a different way of approaching that. I often wonder what mischief I can make to spread the word in a playful way. You can't take everything in life seriously, can you?" -- Emma Watson to Elle in 2017

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Emma Watson on gender equality

UN Women's "HeForShe" VIP After Party — Robin Marchant/Getty Images

"If I asked a young boy what superhero they looked up to, I feel a lot fewer would say a female one or would ever use an example of a female one, than in reverse, which is a shame. We need to live in a culture that values and respects and looks up to and idolizes women as much as men." -- Emma Watson to EW in 2017

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Emma Watson on gender equality

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I — Jaap Buitendijk

"This isn't just, 'girls are better than boys, boys are better than girls.' This is just, 'everyone deserves a fair chance.'" -- Emma Watson to EW in 2017

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Emma Watson on sexist backlash to her Vanity Fair photoshoot

"Beauty And The Beast" - UK Launch Event - VIP Arrivals — Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

"Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It's about freedom. It's about liberation. It's about equality. I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it." -- Emma Watson to Reuters in 2017

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