Being a Girl ROCKS!

At some point in our lives we all come go through a transition phase. Both male and female experience this phase, which is why we are individuals. The term individual simply means “distinct” or “original”. And being a girl is no different, because it defines who I am on the inside. After listening to Eve Ensler’s TED talk Embrace your inner girl, I understand why females are considered emotional “creatures”. Ensler is the creator of Vagina Monologues and also founded V-Day- “a movement to end violence against women and girls everywhere.” She goes on to say that “there is a girl cell in us all.” Now, that is not to say that we all act feminine or have feminine ways, it is way of showing compassion, empathy, passion, openness, vulnerability, and emotion. Most men have been brought up to “bite the bullet” and never to show emotion, but Ensler insists that embracing our girl cell will allow us all to overcome some sense of violence and suppression.

This really hit home with me because from the ages of 11 to 13 I was molested by mother’s boyfriend. I was afraid, alone, and confused. Who was I going to run and tell? Who would believe me? Listening to Ensler tell the stories of the young women that have overcome harsh adversities and mustering up enough strength and courage to stand tall to declare IAM A GIRL, was powerful. She goes on to say that, “Being a girl is so powerful that we’ve had to train everyone not to be one.” Most people think being a girl is all about emotions and feelings, but I beg to differ. Being a girl is about educating, activating, confronting, engaging, and defying. Educating others on what it means to be a girl, activating our courage to stand tall in the midst of adversities, confronting all things that try and come against this movement, engaging in bringing awareness to the issues that affects girls worldwide, and defying all odds.

“If we teach girls to change the verb we will actually enforce the girl inside us and the girl inside them.” The verb Ensler is referring to is please. She says that as girls, we are looked to as to please everybody. We are expected by nature to satisfy everybody’s needs and neglecting our own. We are expected to take care of the house, the kids, and the family putting behind us our well-being, our education and so forth. So as I embrace the girl cell within, I somehow embrace the hope of becoming the woman that I am destined to be.

www.ted.com/talks/eve_ensler_embrace_your_inner_girl.html