Jaclyn Imondi
Copy Editor
Vagina. It’s not a dirty word, but it sure sounds like one. I don’t think we often enough refer to the vagina by its anatomical name. Perhaps, if we did, people wouldn’t give me such surprised looks when I say it.
The looks I get from people when I say “Vagina Monologues” are never short of hilarious to me. Sure, that’s not something you hear every day either, but maybe it’s about time we change that.
Students Against Violence Everywhere (S.A.V.E) will be hosting the “Vagina Monologues” in The Fuller Arts Center. The performance will take place Thursday Feb. 26 to Satruday Feb. 28. Tickets will be $7 at the door.
When Eve Ensler began performing the interviews with women, which would eventually turn into the Vagina Monologues, I doubt she had any idea what her words would do for and mean to women everywhere.
Now, the Vagina Monologues are performed on college campuses across the country, uniting women in the fight to reclaim words, express times of happy and not so happy, and even start a revolution.
The show is different every year as new directors are chosen and perspectives change. The main purpose, though, stays ever the same: women coming together to empower other women.
To some, this thought may be intimidating. Some may ask, “Who gave these girls the right to do something like this?” That’s the point, no one gave us anything. We took it. We wanted it, so we took it.
The Vagina Monologues exists because someone, Eve Ensler, decided that women’s stories were important to tell; she decided that girls need to be taught and reminded that being their purest selves is okay and that the bad things that happened will not mean that the whole rest of your life will be bad, too. The stories of the women Ensler interviewed teach strength, power, love, and acceptance. These stories and performances that go on across the country and around the world give women the permission to be the things they have always wanted to be.
Some may say the show is extreme, and others might think the topics of certain monologues are inappropriate or shouldn’t be talked about, but Ensler didn’t care, and we certainly don’t care. We want to and we do share the stories of these women because they are important stories to tell with important lessons embedded in them. Being extreme and pushing people out of their comfort zones is what makes a difference in the world. Nothing would ever change if everyone was consistently comfortable and approved of every aspect of life. What is life if nothing changes?
The Vagina Monologues gives a voice to the voiceless, raises awareness of a variety of women’s issues, and this year on this campus, focuses more intently on the reclamation of the word “feminism.” In short, feminism is the belief that women should be equal to men, simple as that. Some people may agree with the idea of feminism, but refuse to identify as feminists because of the poor connotation the word holds.
Let’s end that. Let’s work together to end the stereotypes and stigmas and all the negativity surrounding feminism. Be proud to be one; be proud to believe in equality.
Feminism has gone through waves, and some waves have become more infamous than famous. The progress made during those times, though, can never and will never be taken for granted. Women have fought for years to be equal and to be heard. And starting tonight, Thursday Feb. 26, you can all start hearing the stories of women told with the voices of the women you sit next to in class or you share a room with. We invite you all to listen, learn, and speak.