The Vagina Monologues: Every vagina for herself
Amy Breedon, sophomore visual communication design major, had the entire room chanting “CUNT, CUNT, CUNT, CUNT,” as a way of taking pejorative phrase for women and turn it into something empowering as part of “The Vagina Monologues.” The show is a selection of testimonies of over 200 women about their vaginas. Photo by Sam Verbulecz
There are different ways to say vagina in American culture, but students who performed in “The Vagina Monologues” during the weekend said the organ goes beyond the name.
Lacey Smalldon, freshman public health major, said she enjoyed the play.
“I thought they did a good job covering all different aspects of stigmas put on women and vaginas,” said Smolldon.
The Women’s Liberation Collective hosted the event Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Oscar Ritchie Hall to promote V-Day . Diana Shope, art history major, actress and one of three directors of the performance, said Eve Ensler created V-Day to spread awareness about sexual assault.
Beth Vild, senior English major, actress and also one of the directors, said “The Vagina Monologues” script changes a little each year to focus on violence across the world. She said this year’s show focused on women and girls in Haiti.
“I find this play to be crucial in the struggle for women to be able to reclaim their bodies after centuries of oppression,” Vild said. “It is also one of the few outlets that we have in modern day that address the issue of people’s need for a full satisfactory sex life.”
Shope said this year’s proceeds will go to Kent’s beneficiary, the Women and Children of Haiti and the Women’s Liberation Collective.
Students sold chocolate vagina-pops and homemade pins at the show. They also passed out free condoms and information about sexual abuse, STDs and upcoming events through the Women’s Liberation Collective.
Even men said they were impressed with the performance.
“It made me learn that there’s a lot more to a vagina than just being a reproductive organ,” said Tony Simmers, junior graphic arts major. “It’s a nerve center and its own entity. I am a male with a penis, and my penis is definitely not an entity.”
Shope said she felt the performances went smoothly every night.
“There were hiccups, but for the most part, everything went pretty well,” she said. “Everyone did a good job and covered the mess-ups well.”
Contact Megan Wilkinson at [email protected].