There is a trauma that knifes me in the gut every time I hear the news of another inconceivable crime against women. The voices of my sisters- dead and alive- rise in my throat in a chorus of suffering, fear and rage. Mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends, wives: one in three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime.
There is a trauma that poisons my mind every time I see another image that exploits and promotes the abuse, torture and murder of women. As a screenwriter, I cannot count how many times I have been encouraged to pen amongst the most lucrative of scripts: The Woman in Peril, because, that’s entertainment. I often wonder if anything has changed.
There is a trauma that scars my self-love every time I see a compulsively thin or surgically modified body starved for love and whole food. And I’m not talking Third World.
There is a trauma that stains my privileged life in the West because my advantage is pure luck and my freedom is skin-deep. When, in varying degrees, my sisters all over the planet are subjugated and enslaved, how can I possibly feel free? Can you?
American playwright and global activist Eve Ensler’s luck ran out when her father raped her. So this feminist super-hero took her pain and fury and transformed it into art and activism, from the Vagina Monologues (translated into 48 languages and performed in over 140 countries), to the creation of V-Day; a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.
Out of this- One Billion Rising was born- an international campaign that will peak this V-Day February 14th, 2013, as women (and yes, men) all over the world defy the injustice; strike, dance, rise up and demand change. One Billion Rising is crack PR; raising public awareness, helping to transform how men see and treat women, and how we see and treat ourselves. All together now, let’s spread the word.
Click here for a list of events in your area, or create your own. I’ll be dancing my ass off with friends in my living room. What are you doing this Valentine’s Day?
Photo of Eve Ensler by Brigitte Lacombe
Click here and take the One Billion Rising Pledge.
Click here to see this post on the front-page of Montreal’s arts-happy online mag- The Rover!
Two Burns the Fire related posts:
More posts about the joy of dance!
Love and Dance Set Yourself Free Dulcinea’s Lament
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FAN THE FLAMES
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15 Responses to One Billion Rise
On V-day I will be going skating with my 2 beautiful daughters and my wonderful husband. And on this day I will be counting my blessings that I am not the a “one in three”. And on this day, as on everyday, I will be guiding and empowering my daughters so that it is more than luck that keeps them out of harms way.
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Wish I was there. After having spent a week with you and Ned, I would look forward to seeing you dance your ass off.
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I had no idea about Eve Ensler’s story. It reminded me of why I became a feminist – All because of stubborn ‘ol sexism and misogyny. You spray ’em, you scrub ’em… I await the day when feminism will no longer need to be (sprayed) …
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Feminism will be around for as long as sexism and misogyny. Can you imagine a world without it? Or at least, with less?? I’m very excited about One Billion Rising. A marketing campaign for peace in the world.
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Another option for V-Day: A protest being held in Square Victoria from 2pm to 4pm, which will include a variety of different speakers as well as dancing, love and respect!! Come dance and get your protest on 🙂 I can’t wait ❤ ❤
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LOVE. merci for your voice that reminds me that I am not alone
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Holy cow, it’s so simple: we are not alone when we open our hearts to each other.
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I agree with you. But, sometimes people do not want to open their hearts.
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On V-Day I’ll be teaching dancing to Marie, Lyne, Brenda, Isabelle, Eric, Philippe, Ned et David… What a gang!!!
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A comment above (I can’t seem to reply directly): ” …sometimes people do not want to open their hearts.” My response: it’s true, but that doesn’t stop me from opening mine.
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[…] One Billion Rise Set Yourself Free Dulcinea’s Lament […]
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Women are not really celebrated! That’s the horrible fact. We don’t need a day where men will be thoughtful of us when they screw us up the rest of 364 days.
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Jasveena, thanks for commenting. Your words are very strong…. may I ask the context?
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About fifty years ago, women believed that they were the actually the weaker sex. Women lived thinking that they are inferior to men. Sometimes later, education has lifted the life of women and we thought the connotation of women being the weaker is sex has been overruled. But what has baffled me is the fact that women are still being discriminated and violated at every point of life. Discrimination in getting education opportunities (Middle East), at work place, getting fair wages apart from sexual abuse still prevails. I think we don’t really need feminism movement is both sexes could treat each other as another human. It saves the energy and effort which can be channeled to something else. 🙂
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I think I like your blog.
I’ll keep reading and let you know for sure.
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