"Epilogue: Manifesta To Young Women and Girls
HERE'S WHAT YOU WILL BE TOLD:
Find a man Seek protection The world is scary Don't go out You are weak Don't care so much They're only animals Don't be so intense Don't cry so much You can't trust anyone Don't talk to strangers People will take advantage of you Close your legs Girls aren't good with: Numbers Facts Making difficult decisions Lifting things Putting things together International news Flying planes Being in charge. If he rapes you, surrender, you will get killed trying to defend yourself Don't travel alone You are nothing without a man Don't make the first move, wait for him to notice you Don't be too loud Follow the crowd Obey the laws Don't know too much Tone it down Find someone rich It's how you look that matters, not what you think.
HERE'S WHAT I'M TELLING YOU:
Everyone's making everything up There is no one in charge except those who pretend to be No one is coming No one is going to: Rescue you Mind-read your needs Know your body better than you.
Always fight back Ask for it Say you want it Cherish your solitude Take trains by yourself to places you have never been Sleep alone under the stars Learn how to drive a stick shift Go as far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back Say no when you don't want to do something Say yes if your instincts are strong even if everyone disagrees Decide whether you want to be liked or admired Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you're doing here Believe in kissing Fight for tenderness Care as much as you do Cry as much as you want Insist the world be a theater and love the drama Take your time Move as fast as you do as long as it's your speed Ask yourself these questions: Why am I whispering when I have something to say? Why am I adding a question mark at the end of all my sentences? Why am I apologizing every time I express my needs? Why am I hunching over? Starving myself when I love food? Pretending it doesn't mean that much to me? Hurting myself when I mean to scream? Why am I waiting Whining Pining Fitting in? You know the truth: Sometimes it does hurt that much Horses can feel love YOUR MOTHER WANTED MORE THAN THAT It's easier to be mean than smart But that isn't who you are. "

–Eve Ensler 'I AM AN EMOTIONAL CREATURE'