Monica Lewinsky Is Back, but This Time It's on Her Terms

[ismnotwasm]

Monica Lewinsky Is Back, but This Time It's on Her Terms

Monica Lewinsky was sitting in a Manhattan auditorium last month, watching teenage girls perform a play called "Slut." Lewinsky was in bluejeans and a blazer, her hair pulled out of her face with a small clip. She was wiping away tears.

In the scene, a young woman was seated in an interrogation room. She had been asked to describe, repeatedly, what had happened on the night in question - when, she said, on their way to a party, a group of guy friends had pinned her down in a taxi and sexually assaulted her. She had reported them. Now everyone at school knew; everyone had chosen a sidenShare
"My life has just completely fallen apart," the girl said, her voice shaking. Her parents were in the next room. "Now I'm that girl."

The play concluded, and Lewinsky fumbled through her purse for a tissue. A woman came and whisked her to the stage.

"Hi, I'm Monica Lewinsky," she said, visibly nervous. "Some of you younger people might only know me from some rap lyrics."

The crowd, made up largely of high school and college women, laughed. "Monica Lewinsky" is the title of a song by rapper G-Eazy; her name is a reference in dozens of others: by Kanye, Beyonce, Eminem, Jeezy. The list goes on

http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/monica-lewinsky-is-back-but-this-time-its-on-her-terms-748705?site=full

[darkangel218]

1. She was an adult when she engaged in "sexual activities" with President Clinton.

I don't know what shes saying, but she was old enough to discern if her actions were appropriate or not.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Her age doesn't change the fact that an asymmetrical power dynamic was in play.

She was a victim as plain as can be, and Clinton was an abuser to have initiated it, pursued it, and allowed it to happen.

Monica went on to be scapegoated by Clinton supporters and men and women in general.

I'm surprised that you treat it as such an ordinary event and seem to place as much responsibility in her hands as you do.

[brer cat]

4. +1

I also view her as a victim, and she has paid a terrible price.

[Kali]

7. well, that one has posted repeatedly about her BDSM "preferences"

so her perception of power in sexual relationships may be skewed. on the other hand she often sees herself as a victim in a lot of situations so who knows?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

5. "I don't know what shes saying"

I believe that to be true.

[Romeo.lima333]

11. i dont get it either - they had mutual affair - people want to make this out to be bill the

magical svengali , the amazing mezmorizer, put her under his spell and that she was powerless in his awesomeness which quite insulting to ms lewinski

[NYC_SKP]

3. Thank you for posting this.

She looks older and wiser and I really enjoyed the read.

Recommended!

[ismnotwasm]

9. Yes

She became a national joke--a punchline repeated thousands of times. to see her try to use a painful, humiliating experience as a tool to reach out to young women is very welcome.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

6. ...

"It was easy to forget," she said, "that 'That Woman' was dimensional, had a soul and was once unbroken."

"That's part of what I thought I could contribute," she said. "That in someone else's darkest moment, lodged in their subconscious might be the knowledge that there was someone else who was, at one point in time, the most humiliated person in the world. And that she survived it."

[dylan33]

8. I think

it is strange that she just shows up now that Hillary is thinking of running. I smell a republican dirty trick. If it stinks don't step in it.

[patricia92243]

10. I hadn't thought of this. Very interesting. If she starts to appear on Fox, etc,

the answer is clear. I had felt sort of sorry for her, but if it comes about that she is letting the Republicans use her - well, we'll see.

Oh, and welcome to DU!!!!

[CTyankee]

12. here we go again. Maybe she is not "letting the republicans use her..."

let's give her the benefit of the doubt and admire her courage. Let's see her as a woman who nobody is using.

[LanternWaste]

13. You then believe her publicized statements regarding internet bullying two months ago was also "stra

You then believe her publicized and broadcast statements regarding internet bullying two months ago was also "strange" and part and parcel of GOP dirty tricks?

[dylan33]

14. She

has to build a foundation of some kind. I know bull when I hear it. She is not a woman that has a history of being used now is she?