The Vagina Monologues: What Would Your Vagina Have to Say?

If your vagina could talk, what would it say? If it could get dressed, what would it wear? Think about these questions for a minute. They aren’t typical (or comfortable) questions, but they are important to think about.

“The Vagina Monologues” is a collection of interviews and informational facts written by Eve Ensler to spread awareness about domestic violence, rape and abuse while educating women about sexuality—and of course—vaginas!

Directors Becky Guldin and Stephanie Wain, along with a group of phenomenal actresses, brought “The Vagina Monologues” to Penn State’s Forum this past weekend.

“In the words of Eve Ensler, we find freedom, aliveness and power, not from what it contains, locates, or protects us but from what dissolves, reveals and expands us,” Wain says in her director’s message in the play’s pamphlet.

Guldin and Wain started the night off with some of the cast’s definitions of the word “feminist”. Some included angry, controversial, lesbians, people who hate men, Rosie O’Donnell and ugly.

However, this play is not about feminism. It’s about advocating Ensler’s interviews through storytelling and education, in both laughs and sorrows and tears.

The play alternated between funny interviews with scenes (including “The Flood”, “A Six-Year-Old Girl Was Asked” and “Vulva Club”) and serious scenes about women who have been abused and forced into sexual slavery (including “Say It: For the Comfort Women” and “My Vagina Was A Village”).

At the end of the eye-opening play, Guldin and Wain asked for anyone who has been a victim or a survivor of domestic abuse to stand, as well as those who vowed to help end domestic abuse—the whole audience cheered unanimously to end this horrible injustice towards women.

This rendition of the play was a fundraiser to benefit the Centre County Women’s Resource Center, also known as the CCWRC. While “The Vagina Monologues” was a free viewing, all generous donations benefited the CCWRC.

Penn State’s Center for Women Students, also known as the CWS, is another resource “The Vagina Monologues” promoted for anybody interested about learning additional information.  The CWS’ primary objectives are advocacy, information, educational programming and services and referrals.

For additional information to become involved with CWS go to their office in 204 Boucke. To become a volunteer with CCWRC call (814) 238-7066 or visit their website at www.ccwrc.org.

One in Four college women will be raped or abused, according to “The Vagina Monologues”. Think about it: that could easily be you or a friend.

Together we can put an end to these horrible acts.

Photo by Jessica Korch