The Green Tara Project

All girls I start to train make their first attempts at executing the techniques in silence, as if the worst thing in the world is to draw attention to themselves.  It’s surprising to me because they can dress up and be these gorgeous dolls, and that kind of attention is okay and even desired.  But it is almost an unwritten rule that to appear strong and confident is frowned upon and discouraged, that it is maybe somehow ‘unladylike’.  And in my experience, this is not limited to girls in Bihar.  Be it in an Indian schoolyard or a Chicago-area dojo, when women and girls are given the chance to make a loud vocal noise, they are often reluctant.  So, part of what I am doing here is to try to break that silence.  Wish me luck.  This is a very steep road indeed…