Blog #14: Eve Ensler's video regarding violence toward women

Blog #14: Eve Ensler’s video regarding violence toward women

I am actually embarrassed to say that, until this week when I viewed the supplemental readings and videos, I had never even heard of Eve Ensler. Perhaps I’ve just been somewhat isolated because I rarely watch TV… but I do read. Even so, I had never heard of this pioneering woman, who chose to step outside the boundaries of what is considered “normal and acceptable”, and brought her campaign of violence against women to the forefront, and to the minds and televisions of Americans and other people throughout the world. Her work to promote anti-violence, and to educate women on ways to avoid domestic violence, is exemplary. As a playright, her “Vagina Monologues” (TEDtalks.com, 2009) have been hugely successful, not necessarily as an entertainment venue, but as a vehicle to educate women on ways to avoid physical aggression and violence, and as a tool to empower women to voice their opinions and support their beliefs on a number of critically important issues regarding women’s health. Her presentation regarding Female Genital Mutilation (FMG) was particularly poignant as she spoke of “Agnes”, another pioneering woman from Kenya. Agnes has spent many years traveling throughout Africa, largely on foot, as she has traveled from city to city, village to village, spreading the word and “transforming consciousness” (Tedtalks.com, 2009) regarding the horrors and brutality of Female Genital Mutilation.

Perhaps just the title of Ensler’s production, “The Vagina Monologues” (Tedtalks.com, 2009) is what originally captured the attention of viewers and listeners, or perhaps not. Either way, those who have viewed her work have walked away with a new knowledge regarding the extent of violence against women in our country, and throughout the world, and I applaud her efforts and ability to bring this information to us in a very unique, insightful way.

My plan is to follow her website for additional information regarding V-Day campus activities in 2010. http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=e_ensler

Works cited:
http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=e_ensler


Carol Martin