To V or not to V
Posted By Phil on February 23, 2008
I’ve never felt so in touch with my vagina. Eve Ensler and an occasion known as V-Day have opened my eyes up even more into the world of women via a school production of The Vagina Monologues.
Having only read a few of the monologues myself, and seeing a few performed for various theater classes I’ve taken, I decided it was high time I actually see the production. What I saw was a very powerful performance by a group of incredibly talented women. During the ninety minute production, I experienced a variety of emotion. There were times of extreme laughter, times of pain and sorrow, times of joy, times of aggression, and times of peacefulness.
Indeed, The Vagina Monologues expresses what is close to the hearts of women. But more importantly, it touches the lives of every human being, and it embraces life on every level.
The production I saw was not of individual women on stage, one at a time, as I had pictured in my mind it would be. Instead, it was a group of women, united as one on stage, each taking her turn to have her say. I was honored to be granted the privilege of being present in that moment, and of getting this special glimpse into the lives of those around me.
After the fact, I’m reminded of how powerful words can be. It’s impossible to see this show and not be moved. The more people who see this production, and others that strive to touch our hearts in similar ways, the better this world will be.
If you ever decide to pitch for the other team, please let me know.
In the meantime, would you mind speaking to a few hundred million men for me?
I think my honey might have to be the first to know in the extremely unlikely event that I ever switched teams, but sure I’ll let you know.
Thank you so much for writing this. My brother school (Notre Dame) is pitching a HUGE FIT for letting the Monologues back on campus (after kicking them off for a few years). The campus newspaper has been flooded with misogynistic letters to the editor for WEEKS, from all genders. I’m soooo tired of hearing Monologue hate when it can be such a POSITIVE and HEALING experience for so many people!!!
I was reading online a little bit last night about all the negative things people had say about this show… I think the worst thing I read said something about ‘women should talk about what’s a part of them, yes, but even if it’s something as abominable as rape, it is degrading (to the woman who was a victim of rape) to talk about it anywhere other than the confines of a therapy office.’ To me, that admits that such atrocities happen, but does not do anything to inform others about them. If no one knows that that can happen to everyday people, how are any of us supposed to help prevent such things from happening? I’m a firm believer that these things need to be talked about. Keeping it behind closed doors as the same as ignoring it.