Vagina Monologue Author Eve Ensler's 'I Am An Emotional Creature'

"I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World" (Villard, 176 pages, $20), by Eve Ensler: Anyone familiar with the work of activist-writer Eve Ensler knows she's all about girl power.

Ensler wrote "The Vagina Monologues," which over the years has featured well-known actresses reading monologues about sexuality. The tone of the play ranges from funny to awkward to heartbreaking, but its main purpose is to encourage female empowerment.

In her new book, "I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World," Ensler tells readers: "We have become accustomed to muting you, judging you, discounting you, asking you, sometimes even forcing you, to betray what you see and know and feel ..."

She explains that she wrote the book because she wants girls to feel secure in their own identity. To achieve that, she provides insight into what it might be like to live as a young woman today.

Ensler writes fictional monologues as girls across the globe. One is a blog written from the perspective of an anorexic teen: "Beautiful is a country with gates around it. I'll never be invited." Another is an Iranian teen whose parents trick her into rhinoplasty. She was comfortable, even happy, with her distinctive nose, and is devastated by the change. Her father tells her post-surgery, "You will be a princess now."

Another vignette is from the point of view of a 13-year-old Chinese factory worker who makes dolls for a living. Unable to express herself, she infuses her thoughts into each doll's head. She believes that inside the doll is a woman wanting to be free, messy and real, and that the doll hates her uncomfortable high heels and is smarter than people realize.

"I Am an Emotional Creature" is thoughtful and provocative. Its unbiased acceptance of girls of all types is comforting and inspiring.

At the end of the book, Ensler encourages young girls to care and cry as much as they want and to ask, "Why am I adding a question mark to the ends of my sentences?" In other words: be yourself, love yourself. You are special as you are.

Parents often lament about the drama and stress of raising a daughter. If they read Ensler's book, it might open up a discussion of the realities of generation Y.

Comments

[RedDogBear]

02:53 PM on 02/15/2010

I know I will be pilloried as a man that just doesn't get it so first let me say I've called myself a feminist since the 80's and I have a daughter in college so I understand the issues about body image and the importance of empowering women.

Having said that I think Ms. Ensler is not much of a writer and that she gets her fame because she advocates for a very important and under-represented cause but she does it in a very banal way. I tried watching a video of the Vagina monologues a couple times and just couldn't sit through it. And when my feminist girl friends have talked to me about it they also admit its just not very good drama or poetry or whatever its supposed to be.

And this new piece sounds just as obvious. Its possible to have a message in good art, Doris Lessing had a point of view that came through in her writing and IMHO she said a lot about female empowerment and oppresion. But she didn't hit you over the head with it, she did it as part of creating novels that were realistic and well written.

[iamjones]

11:44 PM on 02/16/2010

i saw the Vagina Monologues performed live on stage in New York City, the way it is meant to be experienced. video does not do it justice, just as seeing a stage play on tape does not begin to replicate the live theater experience. it is not traditional drama or necessarily poetry---they are Monologues as clearly stated in title. like any piece of art or art form, it certainly is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but.... "banal"?! her work is anything but...

eve is a vital and vocal champion for all girls and women. we need her and many more like her to keep fighting for the rights and well being of girls and women the world over.

[RedDogBear]

01:07 AM on 02/17/2010

Of course art is subjective so I can't say definitively that its not good. If you liked it you liked it. As for the "you have to see it in person" I don't buy that. Of course there is nothing like seeing something live, a video never comes close, but I still enjoy videos of (or simply reading) plays that i like, such as Shakespeare and doing so gives me a good idea whether I would enjoy a live performance. From what I've seen and read I can't imagine anything more squirm inducing than being stuck in a live performance of VM, even though I'm very receptive to the message.

And I think its interesting the way you defend her work. If I were to say what I liked about Doris Lessing it would be great, beautiful writing, realistic descriptions, believable characters and also that she has important messages. But the great art comes first. You just said Ms. Ensler has a great message. I agree she does. But in my opinion whenever you start a work of art with "here's the message I want to convey" it always suffers as a result. It reminds me of the "socialist realist" (I think that was the term) art produced in the early 20th century. Great messages about equality and workers rights but none of it lives on today.

[iamjones]

02:37 PM on 02/15/2010

i read this book this weekend and absolutely loved it! poignant and powerful, it is both a celebration of young women and a call to action for all of us, men and women alike.

here is eve speaking at TED India...enjoy!

http://www.ted.com/talks/eve_ensler_embrace_your_inner_girl.html

[redheadindixie]

01:37 PM on 02/15/2010

Like Eve I am TIRED of men telling me I'm not rational enough for them. I am an emotional creature- get over it. I am PROUD of being an emotional creature and won't apologize for it anymore.

And yeah I can be very, very rational when need be. Dad was a scientist and I didn't listen to my intuition much til I was 30. Now I listen first to my heart, then my mind. That's how God intends it.

[ElvisGump]

01:22 PM on 02/15/2010

Ah the joy of being unique and special - just like everyone else.