I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World (10 page)

A TEENAGE GIRL’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING SEX SLAVERY

• How do you think the rules the character shares apply “to any girl anywhere in the world”?
  
• Where does the character find hope within her desperate situation? Does she ever lose hope?
  
• What does the character mean when she says, “No one can take anything from you if you do not give it to them”?
  
• How is the character a survivor? How are you a survivor?
  

REFUSER

• What does it mean to be a “refuser”?
  
• Who are the refusers who inspire you?
  
• Learn more about the refusers included in the monologue. Which individuals or issues speak to you?
  
• How can you be a refuser in your everyday life?
  
• Do you think young people can make an impact as refusers?
  

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BEING A GIRL?

• What’s your favorite thing about being a girl?
  
• What are some misconceptions about girls?
  

ASKING THE QUESTION

• Why is it so hard to “ask the question” to use contraception with a sexual partner?
  
• Do you think guys don’t want to wear condoms? Why wouldn’t they?
  
• What advice would you give a friend who needs to “ask the question”?
  
• Do you ever “make people up” and imagine what others are thinking or feeling, as the character in the monologue does?
  
• What role does honesty play in a healthy romantic or sexual relationship?
  

THINGS I LIKE ABOUT MY BODY

• What do you like about your body?
  
• What makes you feel strong and confident?
  
• What outside influences affect how girls feel about their bodies?
  
• What would the world be like if we loved and appreciated one another as we are?
  

MY SHORT SKIRT

• How can you challenge the belief that girls “ask for it” if they dress in a certain way?
  
• How do women look in real life versus in the media? How does this influence you?
  
• What do you find beautiful in real life?
  
• How can your clothing express defiance or empowerment?
  

THINGS THAT GIVE US PLEASURE

• What gives you pleasure?
  
• Do you ever feel like you are doing things just to make other people happy?
  
• How can you focus on what gives you pleasure, rather than seeking to please others?
  

FIVE COWS AND A CALF

• Why do you think gender violence is so common throughout the world and throughout history?
  
• What does your culture expect from you as a girl?
  
• How can you challenge these expectations?
  
• Where would you like to have reconciliation for yourself, in your family, in your friendships, or in other aspects of your life?
  
• What is FGM? What do you think about the practice? Do you think it is possible for cultural attitudes about FGM to change? How?
  
• Do you know of any places where long-practiced traditions have changed?
  

I AM AN EMOTIONAL CREATURE

• What is an emotional creature?
  
• How are you an emotional creature?
  
• What have you been told to shut down or turn off?
  
• Have you ever been told you are too much of something? Too intense, wild, caring, angry, idealistic, etc.? How do you challenge these assumptions?
  
• What would happen if you let the big door inside you fly open? What would happen if we all did?
  

EPILOGUE: MANIFESTA TO YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS

• How can you keep your heart open?
  
• What are your hopes and dreams? Who do you want to be, where do you want to go, and what do you want to learn?
  
• How can you be true to yourself when there are so many things that other people want you to do and be?
  
• How do you want to be an activist in the world?
  
• What issues and causes are important to you?