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)
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.
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!
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.
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)
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.
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.
+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!