I am an Emotional Creature by Eve Ensler

My focus is on “Bad Boys” on pages 18-20.  This story seems to be more open to our interpretations.  I believe it’s not true that boys can express themselves easily.  Our pains and heartaches are there.  Unfortunately we are told not to show them or to express them in any way.  I believe it is a societal thing.  

Is there really a difference in how two teenagers feel?  What would be the difference in the emotions between the girl who was never asked out or the boy in the wheelchair who could not walk up to the same girl to ask her out?  Both these young adults would have the same emotions.  The girl would be able to express her emotions to her friends and/or family.  This young man would probably hold his emotions buried deep within himself.  We’ve all been there -- the “could- have-beens or should-have-beens.”  

If we were to look at this situation from a legal perspective, we would probably say that this boy is not conforming to the rules and needs to be punished accordingly.  From a psychological perspective, this boy needs to behave more appropriately.  From a parent’s perspective, he is just acting out and he is mad.  

I believe, in this case, his mother is trying to adjust herself physically, emotionally and financially to their new life.  This so called “Bad Boy” apparently came from a well-established home.  He had friends that accepted him for who he was even though he was not the most handsome boy around.  “He is not the most handsome boy.” p. 20.  He probably had his bedroom arranged just the way he wanted with all the things that boys put on their walls to make it part of their identity.  He created a “safe haven” for himself and his friends. 

Now all of that has been turned upside down.  He lives in an apartment with his mother.  It is a small apartment.  He feels confined.  This “Bad Boy” is having a difficult time accepting what has happened to him and his home.  The image he created of mom and dad together has been destroyed.  He is very angry at dad for leaving him and his mother in the small apartment he doesn’t want to call home.  Now they have to struggle to fend for themselves.  He couldn’t go to the school counselor or his friends. 

When he talks at the end about being “angry at his father for leaving his mother” and “this stupid place where they are living,” (p. 20) I believe it would be very difficult for him to find the right resources to show these strong emotions.  He needs to confide in someone.  He needs a safe place to empty his frustrations.  This teenager is not a “bad boy.”  He is simply a boy trying to get through adolescence and his parent’s divorce and his having to move, leave his friends, start a new school and make new friends.  That’s a lot to ask of a young teenager.