Upworthy is a website I became aware of through Facebook - something worthwhile. Last week I watched Dominique Christian perform her slam poem about menstruation. By the end I felt so emotional - a kind of righteous anger, a wish that I could express myself so eloquently. As my daughters are growing up I have become more concerned about the society they are a part of and the lessons they absorb from me as their main female role model. How do you adequately prepare your girls for both the subtle and unsubtle sexism they will not only encounter, but have to endure. I just loved Dominique's skill in taking down the protagonist who upset her daughter and prompted he to pen this response. Equally, she used this skill to talk about the power of menstruation and womanhood.

The last time I felt so powerfully connected to all the women in the universe was when I read The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. Both these women have really made me think about what it is to be a woman and how we can benefit from strengthening our bonds with other women and to be supportive of them. In high school there was a period (no pun intended) of time when I was shunned by my female peers. This experience led me to distrust women or more particularly gangs of women. I still maintained a few close friendships, but did not see myself as part of a community of women. Reading The Red Tent challenged my perceptions and I was able to open up my heart again to women. To be more trusting, to take risks with my personal stories. Listening to Dominique helped me to express the protective rage I feel concerning my daughters, but it also strengthened my determination to open their eyes to both the perils and the wonders of the world.