In this episode Chris Hedges speaks with Tony-award winning playwright, author, and activist, V, formerly known as Eve Ensler, on the assault on women’s rights, as well as her book, "The Apology".
I grew up in Brazil, where abortion is also illegal, and I drove several friends - who could pay the doctors - to have their abortions. One of my friends who didn't have the money, and didn't ask for help, almost died and later, when she wanted a child, she could not have children anymore. It is heartbreaking and infuriating that she had to go through that alone.
The existing structure and those atop it and the bias for it (there are many justifications) will go to violent lengths to maintain it.
Starvation (get back to work), incarceration, war, indebtedness, defamation, marginalization, psych ops, ms media mischaracterization.
Being strong and standing with moral courage will not be made easy. One doesn't fight iniquitous authoritarianism because you win, you do so because it is the right thing to do.
Thank you for this exceptional interview!!! As an older female that never experienced any serious abuse, I can now see that I WAS SO EXTREMELY LUCKY ... the horrors Ms Eve had to go through - sickening (and yes it is certainly everywhere all over the world ... one more thing to be depressed about)
It’s worthy of your boldness, your willingness, your choosing to take steps beyond your usual comfort zone which has always been a common factor in all social movements from women’s suffrage, civil rights, anti Vietnam war protests, gay rights, unionizing…… The patriarchy and the oligarchy are counting on us talking ourselves into powerlessness….
Do not donate to Democrats, who do not actively work for our rights and interests, or to the Democratic Party at large anymore. They have not represented women's best interests and needs for decades in so many obvious ways.
Start a new party. The People's Party could be that party if women and liberated men would join and support it.
Democrats sold out to big banks, large corporations super wealthy individuals and special interests. They are a bunch of hypocrites.
Donating to Republicans or Democrats who do not represent women do not deserve our time, effort or money.
There are 2 emotions and only 2 that the patriarchy will allow.
1. Sexual lust/want
2. Anger/violence
All other emotions are denied and forbidden because if entertained, they will lead to thoughts, which will produce questions, which will shake the whole pyramid. The pyramid doesn't do well when shaken.
It was good to point out that without female labor, (necessary, essential, ubiquitous, not respected and largely unpaid), a culture or country would not be possible.
"Mother" is a job description. As is "Father". Maybe it's time to pay them for their work.
So strange to hear "V" (whatever you like) actually believes cancer is a result of trauma to the body. What a whack job. I guess since she has written some plays and won a Tony, she now qualifies herself as a medical professional??? I've had so much trauma to my body (broken bones, pins, plates, massive stitching to close lacerations, etc. over the course of nearly 6 decades that it isn't funny. Never has any of that resulted in a cancer diagnosis or symptom. BTW V, I don't think you have the slightest snowballs chance in hell of being physically accosted by any alleged (V conveniently forgot to qualify her accusation) sexual predator serving on the Supreme Court. Why worry about it? Apparently the delusion runs deep.
Chris, why do you waste your valuable time? IMO, you're capable of far more important work than give giving the stage to this type of lunatic. Her rant belongs in a shrink's office; not your blog.
V says that trauma to the body causing cancer is something she believes could be true, but also states it is currently unproven. It is not an unreasonable hypothesis since trauma and stress causes abnormal bodily physiological processes which could make one prone to develop a disease such as cancer.
Key word in your reply is "could". It also, just as reasonably, could not. With all due respect hypotheses are not scientifically proven based on a flip of the coin.
No, there isn't. Problem is that idea isn't reasonable...and has no basis in fact. Just like "V" has no evidence to support her claim of Biden's predecessor and two current Supreme Court Justices being sexual predators. Neither of those accusations were presented as opinion. Her entire demeanor lacks reasonableness that bleeds, irrationally, between entirely different subjects. I'm simply excercising my right to present my opinion, as a paid subscriber, on how I feel about Mr. Hedges choosing to give platform to meaningless garbage. You may want to check your critical sense as well.
You may want to check your critical sense as well. So shall we use your critical sense as our reference to discriminate value from worthlessness. Or - is your objectivity that we ought to use?
Your condescension and apparent scientific naïveté (assuming because you fit the picture you should get cancer and since you don’t then the picture must be wrong) is a terrific model of attitudes - arrogance, superiority, black and white thinking, reactive, shaming - typical of those possessed by DeSantis, Abbott of TX, Agent Chaos and any of his henchmen/women. Openness, curiousity, inquisitiveness, search for truth, rationality, objectivity, humility of attitude and approach so the data/experience speaks for itself -all are absent in your diatribe. You know better than all - including Hedges.
Due to your own ignorance and penchant for group think, you've mistaken critical thought for arrogance. Couple that with your apparently innate inferiority complex and I understand where your self feeding (and affirming) drama loop comes from. I suggest you console yourself with the idea that ignorance is bliss.
You MUST be a male, why do you say she is a lunatic??? Have YOU EVER DEALT WITH THIS KIND OF TRAUMA?? Look at her website, she tries to do something for women and there are lots and lots of severely abused ones everywhere!!! (It is surprising that she survived it, many suicide)
If she wants to do something to help women that have been raped, then she should have reported her attacker to the police...and advocate for other women to do the same. Has her attacker ever been charged or is he sitting in jail right now? That is what she should be focused on. She could also advocate for stricter sexual abuse laws. Men are, on a whole, physically stronger than women, and the strong naturally prey on the weak. This is a reality in the animal kingdom that nobody is going to change; not even a Tony award winning playwright. The good news is that the law doesn't recognize this advantage... and that is the arena in which a civilized civilized society best deals with the issue-- in my opinion. However, attempting to link trauma to cancer (which doesn't help deter the illegal activity she alleges one iota) sidetracks the issue and is otherwise just plain lunacy.
To the lunacy: it is her opinion (we all have OUR opinions ...) and there are lots of people out there that believe we will die 2 years after the Covid Vacc - in MY OPINION this is lunacy ... and did you have a look at her website ??? (https://www.vday.org/) I think she does a LOT ... and last how would a child go to the police and complain about abuse??? There never was much interest or money for safe spaces for females and their children fleeing an abusive relationships ...
Based on her lack of presenting any evidence whatsoever for linking physical trauma to cancer, I believe V is a lunatic. I also believe I am on solid, rational ground in making that statement of fact; not opinion.
I believe the statue of limitations for reporting and persueing allegations of rape in the U.S. are anywhere from 10-20 years. That safely puts your excuse of her being a child (and not having the mental or physical wherewithal to report the alleged crime) safely out of range; particularly if such levels of alleged physical "trauma" were involved.
Lastly, I have no interest whatsoever in wasting my time in going to " her website", although I appreciate you offering--twice.
Chris, I find this hodge-podge of "assault on women", "patriarchy", "covid", "capitalism" and "LBGTQI+" theory doesn't explain anything. It's simply a depressing rant. Covid lockdowns that destroyed the working class - men and women - were loved by affluent liberal women and men in the suburbs. This same liberal suburban managerial class supports abortion rights while shitting their pants about covid and screaming for vaccines for their kids, courtesy of big pharma. How transgender rights, which are the loudest today in the area of biological men demanding access to female spaces, go along with feminism has yet to be explained. And while abortion rights in a generic question have very high support, once the issue gets broken down into a more detailed discussion, the opinions start to differ starkly in regards to when access to abortions should be cut off: 10 weeks, 15 weeks, never etc. Fact is that only about 20% of electorate will vote on abortion, i.e. all others have more pressing issues that they vote on. This is not the patriarchy at play here because women vote in much higher numbers than men, so they could get anyone thrown out of office if it was their number one issue. Women from all socio-economic backgrounds simply don't agree on abortion rights, period. And to throw somehow "domestic violence during the pandemic" in there to explain anything is just silly. Men are more depressed, commit suicide in higher numbers, are victims of crime in higher numbers etc. etc. etc. Covid lockdown were designed to beat down women? Women in the professional class made out like bandits during the pandemic. Female nurses make more money and have more employment options than ever! No hospital nurse in CA will get out of bed for less than $80-100/hr base plus bonuses etc. And all the noise on LBGTQ+ rights is mostly generated spoiled affluent college kids throwing tantrums on campuses, the majority of them being women! What patriarchy? Anyway, I think you can do better!
Weird. The attitude that gives short shrift to the sanctity of a woman’s body and her right to care for herself and not to be superseded by any other entity. Further, the apparent incomprehension of the meaning - spiritual and physical-experiential of being forced to do something with your bodily processes by anyone or any entity like the state. How insignificant and unimportant a matter seems to be the attitude. As though personal sanctity is meaningless. Extending such an attitude allows slavery, sex trafficking, paying people peanuts for work done - does it not?
Exactly the right perspective: we will not accept this Christian fascist attack. Disobey.
I grew up in Brazil, where abortion is also illegal, and I drove several friends - who could pay the doctors - to have their abortions. One of my friends who didn't have the money, and didn't ask for help, almost died and later, when she wanted a child, she could not have children anymore. It is heartbreaking and infuriating that she had to go through that alone.
Indeed, the United states of Amnesia:
Solidarity, so key.
The existing structure and those atop it and the bias for it (there are many justifications) will go to violent lengths to maintain it.
Starvation (get back to work), incarceration, war, indebtedness, defamation, marginalization, psych ops, ms media mischaracterization.
Being strong and standing with moral courage will not be made easy. One doesn't fight iniquitous authoritarianism because you win, you do so because it is the right thing to do.
United States of Amnesia....perfect description
Thank you for this exceptional interview!!! As an older female that never experienced any serious abuse, I can now see that I WAS SO EXTREMELY LUCKY ... the horrors Ms Eve had to go through - sickening (and yes it is certainly everywhere all over the world ... one more thing to be depressed about)
It’s worthy of your boldness, your willingness, your choosing to take steps beyond your usual comfort zone which has always been a common factor in all social movements from women’s suffrage, civil rights, anti Vietnam war protests, gay rights, unionizing…… The patriarchy and the oligarchy are counting on us talking ourselves into powerlessness….
Thank you for this.
Do not donate to Democrats, who do not actively work for our rights and interests, or to the Democratic Party at large anymore. They have not represented women's best interests and needs for decades in so many obvious ways.
Start a new party. The People's Party could be that party if women and liberated men would join and support it.
Democrats sold out to big banks, large corporations super wealthy individuals and special interests. They are a bunch of hypocrites.
Donating to Republicans or Democrats who do not represent women do not deserve our time, effort or money.
There are 2 emotions and only 2 that the patriarchy will allow.
1. Sexual lust/want
2. Anger/violence
All other emotions are denied and forbidden because if entertained, they will lead to thoughts, which will produce questions, which will shake the whole pyramid. The pyramid doesn't do well when shaken.
It was good to point out that without female labor, (necessary, essential, ubiquitous, not respected and largely unpaid), a culture or country would not be possible.
"Mother" is a job description. As is "Father". Maybe it's time to pay them for their work.
May I add : powerlessness, helplessness, and the attitude: obedience?
Thanks so much V!! We must organize, organize, organize! This is dire🤝👭🤝
So strange to hear "V" (whatever you like) actually believes cancer is a result of trauma to the body. What a whack job. I guess since she has written some plays and won a Tony, she now qualifies herself as a medical professional??? I've had so much trauma to my body (broken bones, pins, plates, massive stitching to close lacerations, etc. over the course of nearly 6 decades that it isn't funny. Never has any of that resulted in a cancer diagnosis or symptom. BTW V, I don't think you have the slightest snowballs chance in hell of being physically accosted by any alleged (V conveniently forgot to qualify her accusation) sexual predator serving on the Supreme Court. Why worry about it? Apparently the delusion runs deep.
Chris, why do you waste your valuable time? IMO, you're capable of far more important work than give giving the stage to this type of lunatic. Her rant belongs in a shrink's office; not your blog.
V says that trauma to the body causing cancer is something she believes could be true, but also states it is currently unproven. It is not an unreasonable hypothesis since trauma and stress causes abnormal bodily physiological processes which could make one prone to develop a disease such as cancer.
Key word in your reply is "could". It also, just as reasonably, could not. With all due respect hypotheses are not scientifically proven based on a flip of the coin.
V nor I are saying it is proven. There is nothing wrong with presenting an idea that is reasonable.
No, there isn't. Problem is that idea isn't reasonable...and has no basis in fact. Just like "V" has no evidence to support her claim of Biden's predecessor and two current Supreme Court Justices being sexual predators. Neither of those accusations were presented as opinion. Her entire demeanor lacks reasonableness that bleeds, irrationally, between entirely different subjects. I'm simply excercising my right to present my opinion, as a paid subscriber, on how I feel about Mr. Hedges choosing to give platform to meaningless garbage. You may want to check your critical sense as well.
You may want to check your critical sense as well. So shall we use your critical sense as our reference to discriminate value from worthlessness. Or - is your objectivity that we ought to use?
Your condescension and apparent scientific naïveté (assuming because you fit the picture you should get cancer and since you don’t then the picture must be wrong) is a terrific model of attitudes - arrogance, superiority, black and white thinking, reactive, shaming - typical of those possessed by DeSantis, Abbott of TX, Agent Chaos and any of his henchmen/women. Openness, curiousity, inquisitiveness, search for truth, rationality, objectivity, humility of attitude and approach so the data/experience speaks for itself -all are absent in your diatribe. You know better than all - including Hedges.
Due to your own ignorance and penchant for group think, you've mistaken critical thought for arrogance. Couple that with your apparently innate inferiority complex and I understand where your self feeding (and affirming) drama loop comes from. I suggest you console yourself with the idea that ignorance is bliss.
Do you put an olive in your glass to lighten up the sulfuric acid you imbibe?
Lest you continue to babble like the village idiot, please consider this bit of valuable insight:
"Your verse is my vice, and my vice is your verse. And vice versa". Radha Bharadwaj
You MUST be a male, why do you say she is a lunatic??? Have YOU EVER DEALT WITH THIS KIND OF TRAUMA?? Look at her website, she tries to do something for women and there are lots and lots of severely abused ones everywhere!!! (It is surprising that she survived it, many suicide)
If she wants to do something to help women that have been raped, then she should have reported her attacker to the police...and advocate for other women to do the same. Has her attacker ever been charged or is he sitting in jail right now? That is what she should be focused on. She could also advocate for stricter sexual abuse laws. Men are, on a whole, physically stronger than women, and the strong naturally prey on the weak. This is a reality in the animal kingdom that nobody is going to change; not even a Tony award winning playwright. The good news is that the law doesn't recognize this advantage... and that is the arena in which a civilized civilized society best deals with the issue-- in my opinion. However, attempting to link trauma to cancer (which doesn't help deter the illegal activity she alleges one iota) sidetracks the issue and is otherwise just plain lunacy.
Your spine sure is up and leaking with fulminations. Something about Her that gets your goat - so utterly exaggerated is your response.
To the lunacy: it is her opinion (we all have OUR opinions ...) and there are lots of people out there that believe we will die 2 years after the Covid Vacc - in MY OPINION this is lunacy ... and did you have a look at her website ??? (https://www.vday.org/) I think she does a LOT ... and last how would a child go to the police and complain about abuse??? There never was much interest or money for safe spaces for females and their children fleeing an abusive relationships ...
Based on her lack of presenting any evidence whatsoever for linking physical trauma to cancer, I believe V is a lunatic. I also believe I am on solid, rational ground in making that statement of fact; not opinion.
I believe the statue of limitations for reporting and persueing allegations of rape in the U.S. are anywhere from 10-20 years. That safely puts your excuse of her being a child (and not having the mental or physical wherewithal to report the alleged crime) safely out of range; particularly if such levels of alleged physical "trauma" were involved.
Lastly, I have no interest whatsoever in wasting my time in going to " her website", although I appreciate you offering--twice.
+1
I tried to find Eve Ensler, or V's article in the guardian but was not successful.
You landed on your feet, Chris, and you didn't skip a beat. Mad Love
Chris, I find this hodge-podge of "assault on women", "patriarchy", "covid", "capitalism" and "LBGTQI+" theory doesn't explain anything. It's simply a depressing rant. Covid lockdowns that destroyed the working class - men and women - were loved by affluent liberal women and men in the suburbs. This same liberal suburban managerial class supports abortion rights while shitting their pants about covid and screaming for vaccines for their kids, courtesy of big pharma. How transgender rights, which are the loudest today in the area of biological men demanding access to female spaces, go along with feminism has yet to be explained. And while abortion rights in a generic question have very high support, once the issue gets broken down into a more detailed discussion, the opinions start to differ starkly in regards to when access to abortions should be cut off: 10 weeks, 15 weeks, never etc. Fact is that only about 20% of electorate will vote on abortion, i.e. all others have more pressing issues that they vote on. This is not the patriarchy at play here because women vote in much higher numbers than men, so they could get anyone thrown out of office if it was their number one issue. Women from all socio-economic backgrounds simply don't agree on abortion rights, period. And to throw somehow "domestic violence during the pandemic" in there to explain anything is just silly. Men are more depressed, commit suicide in higher numbers, are victims of crime in higher numbers etc. etc. etc. Covid lockdown were designed to beat down women? Women in the professional class made out like bandits during the pandemic. Female nurses make more money and have more employment options than ever! No hospital nurse in CA will get out of bed for less than $80-100/hr base plus bonuses etc. And all the noise on LBGTQ+ rights is mostly generated spoiled affluent college kids throwing tantrums on campuses, the majority of them being women! What patriarchy? Anyway, I think you can do better!
Weird. The attitude that gives short shrift to the sanctity of a woman’s body and her right to care for herself and not to be superseded by any other entity. Further, the apparent incomprehension of the meaning - spiritual and physical-experiential of being forced to do something with your bodily processes by anyone or any entity like the state. How insignificant and unimportant a matter seems to be the attitude. As though personal sanctity is meaningless. Extending such an attitude allows slavery, sex trafficking, paying people peanuts for work done - does it not?