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
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree more attention should be brought to Eve Ensler, she is a very influential person. I recall the production of the vagina monologues being very popular a few years ago; many big named actresses participated in this display of freedom. This production is just the tip of the ice berg that is woman's rights. Violence against women is very real and will not stop until every woman can confidently stand up and defend herself publicly.
ReplyDeleteCarol you posted a pretty interesting post right there, I am totally up for what you have said,"Violence against women is very real and will not stop until every woman can confidently stand up and defend herself publicly." With the change in time, this world is getting more unbearable and hard to cope up with.
ReplyDeleteNot only is violence against women prevalent here is the United States but in other countries too. Around the world women are being abused beaten, dragged, raped, and killed. This issues is happening in ones own community. Women are waking up to beautiful mornings, performing their everyday task to getting abducted and laying down to the ugly darkness. Now a days women are targets everywhere as if women are toys, this is not a game that one plays. Women can longer leave there homes and go to work, and feel safe any more. There are thoughts that run through the minds of the women in Mexico. The killing and abducting is increasing day by day. The men are committing this crimes like it is apart of the grocery list. Hope that there is faith out there to get this, before it becomes the norm.