15-year-old boy writes epic letter-to-editor on Emma Watson’s UN speech

A 15-year-old boy in England has written what may be the most thoughtful commentary yet on Emma Watson’s speech at the United Nations.

The English actress made headlines last week with her moving speech on ending gender inequality, sparking widespread use of the hashtag #HeForShe.

But schoolboy Ed Holtom was dismayed by his peers’ reaction to Watson’s inspiring address, prompting him to write this letter to the editor of the British newspaper the Daily Telegraph.

“SIR – I watched Emma Watson’s UN speech and agreed with everything she said, so I was disappointed by how ignorant some of the other boys in my class were about it (I attend an independent, all-boys school),” he wrote.

“Feminism is not about man-hating or female supremacy. It is, by definition, the opposite,” he continued. “It’s pretty simple really: if you believe in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes, then you’re a feminist.”

Holtom came away wanting to share this powerful message to the reading public: “We must not let gender define us.”

And based on Twitter’s reaction, that message appeared to resonate with many.

SEE PHOTOSEmma Watson

Several high-profile tweeters shared links and photos of Holtom’s letter, including the Telegraph’s official Twitter handle @TelegraphNews and the actors Barnaby Edwards, Samuel West and Nicholas Pegg -- all of whom have tens of thousands of followers.

15-year-old boy writes "magnificent" letter about Emma Watson's UN speech: http://t.co/5GICoFM6Fv @EdHoltom #HeForShe pic.twitter.com/O9rwIHZjm0

— Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) September 28, 2014

15-year-old @EdHoltom enlightens Telegraph readers about what feminism actually is. Wonderful! pic.twitter.com/9tq35Ns3zz

— Barnaby Edwards (@BarnabyEdwards) September 28, 2014

15 year old @EdHoltom writes the sort of letter you want to read from today's schoolboys, and tomorrow's men. pic.twitter.com/nCKp7bQjJA

— Samuel West (@exitthelemming) September 28, 2014

A magnificent letter in the Telegraph from 15-year-old @EdHoltom. pic.twitter.com/68Bzkq0GhB

— Nicholas Pegg (@NicholasPegg) September 28, 2014

An active tweeter himself, Holtom catalogued the experience within his own Twitter feed. See his tweets below.

hi so my thoughts on feminism were published in this week's Sunday Telegraph.

— Ed (@EdHoltom) September 28, 2014

You can read 'Boys should listen Emma Watson' here: http://t.co/8zhVfP7bPR

— Ed (@EdHoltom) September 28, 2014

i was in the Sunday Telegraph  http://t.co/JjQyCfgSXG

— Ed (@EdHoltom) September 28, 2014