Emotional Availability

One thing that I'm learning about females is the fact that most women need to express themselves in one way or another. I think that Shange was using this fact to perpetuate this poem. Men can be closed off and they can deal with difficult circumstances on their own; however, women are the opposite. Sometimes, women just need to be around other women who understand and can relate to their pain. I believe that this is what this poem is about--women coming together to share in their experiences and find solace in each other. In the book, they are in a conversation with one another, and they are feeding off of one another in order to process and deal with what they have gone through. This poem reflects the need for women of all ages to find identity in themselves and each other. These women are allowing themselves to be emotionally available to each other and to other women and to share their stories. This book allows the women of color to peel away the ideas that little girls have about life and love and allows them to see what potentially could happen to them. It is a real and honest look at how to be emotionally available and how to let yourself be honest about your circumstances.