Emma Watson says she's "self-partnered" instead of "single" and people are loving it
5 November 2019, 20:23
In a new interview with British Vogue, Emma said: "I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered.”
Back in 2014, it was Gwyneth Paltrow who popularised the term 'conscious uncoupling'. And now, in 2019, Emma Watson has just given us an alternative for 'single' which is... *drum roll* 'self-partnered.'
Speaking in a new interview with British Vogue, Emma opened up about the pressures of turning 30. Initially, the 29-year-old actress didn't think there was much of a big fuss about turning 30 until she began feeling "stressed and anxious" about where she was in her personal life.
READ MORE: Emma Watson and Tom Felton reunited again and everyone is losing it
"And I realise it’s because there is suddenly this bloody influx of subliminal messaging around," she said. "If you have not built a home, if you do not have a husband, if you do not have a baby, and you are turning 30, and you’re not in some incredibly secure, stable place in your career, or you’re still figuring things out… There’s just this incredible amount of anxiety.”
“I never believed the whole ‘I’m happy single’ spiel,” she continued. “I was like, ‘This is totally spiel.’ It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered.”
December's cover star @EmmaWatson sat down with fellow activist @parislees to reflect on her extraordinary journey so far. See Watson talk candidly about life in the spotlight, turning 30, and the thrill of working with Meryl Streep: https://t.co/6FMUsoz5cu pic.twitter.com/zB591Eqmuy
— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) November 5, 2019
The term has been met with both praise and eye rolls (and for predictable reasons, masturbation jokes) on Twitter.
While a handful of people aren't too convinced by the "pretentious" term, the majority of people are absolutely living for her refreshing take on the whole "single at 30" thing and the negative connotations that create all the pressure that Emma explained in the interview.
General consensus? Emma's new term is lowkey empowering. As one Twitter user said: "When you say you're single, people are like, 'Aw! Poor thing! We've got to find you someone!' But saying it this way says, 'I'm not with anyone, but I'm okay with that.' I think I like it!"
She might be on to something here, idk idk. Alexa, play Hailee Steinfeld's 'Love Myself'!
clearly an unpopular opinion today but i like the term #SelfPartnered, i think it encourages us to envision a healthier relationship with ourselves and with others.
— Kitty Wenham (@kittywenham) November 5, 2019
All about being 'self partnered', I'm happy and single. Just because I'm nearing 30 does not mean I need to be married with kids. Thanks for coining this phrase Emma Watson ❤️
— Hannah Tucker (@h_tucks) November 5, 2019
Emma Watson: Makes a very valid point about the absurd pressures placed on women with regards to expectations over family/partners and that being single is fine.
— Jim Ross (@JimGR) November 5, 2019
The internet: #SelfPartnered!! LOL!!1!
Thanks to Emma Watson the term 'self-partnered' will now be over-used on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/ZiKgdIXfFi
— Alex Newman (@23Newms) November 5, 2019
The fact that ACTUAL EMMA WATSON felt pressure to have her shit together by 30 is pretty telling. But surely using a term like “self-partnered” is only creating more stigma? Just say you’re single, love. It’s grand. https://t.co/dLbdz9QdeR
— Hazel Hayes (@TheHazelHayes) November 5, 2019
Although maybe it’s because when you tell someone you’re single, the automatic assumption is that you’re actively looking for a partner, so by saying self-partnered you’re making it clear that you’d actually rather be on you’re own right now? pic.twitter.com/XPj79ebc6G
— Hazel Hayes (@TheHazelHayes) November 5, 2019