Embrace your Inner Girl - Eve Ensler... for Women Only... and A Few Brave Men...

Cathy:  Thank you so much for watching the video.  I know it was long. 

I appreciate your views... and understand what you are saying.  Yes, it is to each girl to define herself and what it means for her to be a girl.

I think Eve was trying to say that girls should be free to not have to be totally tied to the definition of who and what a girl is... in her own culture... or, more likely, in the culture of her parents.

I love the graphic... girl power.  Yay... !

Chris Ann:  I am really glad you did watch the video.  I was hoping you would.  And sure, our feminine qualities need to be embraced.  If we don't value ourselves... why should others ?

I had to watch the video twice, and saw different things in it the second time through.  I am sure when I watch it for the third time... I will make new discoveries, as well.

Government.  Uh huh.  Seventeen women in the Senate... and 83 men.  I don't care who disagrees with me... but a woman's outlook IS different from a man's.

I do agree with you, however, that women in government should not be trying to "act like men."

Again... thanks so much for watching the video, and for adding to the dialogue here.

Norma:  And a big Thank You to you as well for watching the whole video.  Dialogue is a good thing.  Eve Ensler had quite a few "good lines" in the video.  She sure knows how to take command of an audience when she speaks.

We are girls... and we DO need to embrace that in us, and let it "inform" all that we do.  We must let it "inspire" us.  Inspire... as in let it become and inhabit our "spirit."  I always like that about the word "inspire."

And, just between you and me... I'm glad you were born female, too.  <smile>

Deborah:  I hope you DO have time to watch the entire video.  I know it will take some time, and it might not be easy... "in the office."  Ensler IS amazing.  I have seen her Vagina Monologues as well... and have the DVD.  Have you ever watched that ?  She has some segments with much older women... that are truly endearing.

I look forward to your sharing your ideas... later on after you see the video.  And... thank you...

Fred:  You are welcome.  I look forward to your sharing your reaction to the video after you watch it.

Charles:  I agree.  But... have you watched THIS video ?  I would like you to share your comments if you are brave enough to watch it... LOL.

Gary:  Did you watch this entire video ?  Sure they are "thought provoking."  But, that doesn't tell us much, nor add to the dialogue.  What individual parts of her video impacted you, and how ?

Charles:  Very well said, my friend.  What you saw is exactly why I think it was such a great video.  And Ms Ensler's presentation couldn't get any better than it was.  Very well done.  I believe the presentation was performed in India... and the crowd... which seemed about 2/3rds American... loved it.  They all loved it.

Leslie... what did you think of Eve's presentation in the video ?  She was masterful.  By the way... here is a picture of my "inner girl."

Also... Bitch... a great word.  There are those of us "girls" who see it as a term of endearment.  It's an acronym... and stands for Being In Total Control Herself.  So the next time you are fortunate enough to have someone call you a bitch... smile sweetly, coyly put your index finger under your chin, and them them... "Cool... I was hoping you would notice."

It just changes everything.  Remember... sometimes what the brilliant physicist Max Planck said is true.  "When you change the way you look at things... the things you look at... change."  I love that quote.

Speaking of parents bragging about their tomboy daughter... will we ever get a man... or a woman parent who will brag about how much of a sissy their little boy is ?  He could grow up to be a multi-million dollar fashion designer.  Ya never know.

Leslie:  Trust me... I know all about stereotypes, and that is not the direction I was going in, even though it may have sounded like it.

It is easy for boys who have sensitive sides to grow up NOT being what one would call a stereotype, but those who do end up becoming effeminate often end up being the butt of so much horror.  Even though I obviously favor girls... a girl has much more freedom to grow up from her Tomboy'hood to be whatever she becomes... much more free than your Janegirl faces.

Mona:  You are "chiming in", too.  Cool.  There used to be a Doo Wop group called "The Chimes."  Do you remember them ?

It sounds like working in your office is great for you and Leslie, and of course, your office manager Sienna.  And yes, brutality must be exposed, and the bright light of awareness must chase away the darkness of secrecy that shrouds it.  Brutality is ugly, and many do not even want to acknowledge that it exists.  But... it must be looked at.  It must be seen.

Chick Flicks.  I love chick flicks.  I even know some guys who like chick flicks.  Even some straight guys... LOL.

As far as you "suggesting" this post... thanks so much.  It is the thought that counts... but I would be surprised if it gets the Gold Star.  But, it appears from the response that those who have read and commented here... have given it their own Gold Star.  That is such a prize.

My best to Sienna.

Wanda:  Thank you so much for watching the video.  It really IS powerful.  Eve Ensler is one powerful woman.

I remember way back when I originally saw The Vagina Monologues, and ordered the DVD.  I felt like I had discovered a window to something so precious.  I especially enjoyed the elderly women and their comments on that DVD of Eve's.

Wanda, I can tell that your thoughts and opinions are very precious, and I am so glad you were able to get to a place where you were able to share them.  I remember those times in my little girl'hood as well.  I somehow spoke out, though... and wow do I remember "getting some looks."

That is just amazing what your son shared with you... really amazing.  And... what a great thing is says to me about the way you have raised him... that he feels free enough to share that with you... and knows he will be accepted... regardless of what he says.  If only more males would feel the way that he does.  I think this world would look very different.

Patricia:  Cool !  I am glad.  What a presentation she puts on.  I will Google your book about Nujood.  I am sure that if you recommend it... it will be worth my reading.

A girl going straight to woman'hood so rapidly that she misses her girlhood... may never be able to go back and find that part of her life.  How tragic. 

Awareness is key.  We, as Americans, are so sheltered from what is going on in the rest of the world.

By the way... I would not be surprised if at some time or other... Eve Ensler makes an appearance at TWU.  I think she preformed her Vagina Monologues there... or at least the women themselves put on their own presentation of the Vagina Monologues at Texas Woman's University.  I wish I lived closer.