Vagina. It is not a word typically used in everyday conversation. Many people may even feel uncomfortable talking about this part of the female body. The Vagina Monologues is a collection of stories which aim to highlight everything possible regarding female genitalia. From rape to pleasure to appearance and even to the tools used during visits to the gynecologist, this play covers it all.
What started off as a positive outlet for expressing femininity and an appreciation of vaginas has grown into a campaign to stop violence toward women and children. The Victim Witness Services (VWS) of Coconino County has been the main sponsor of this event for the past several years with great success and is proud to present it to the community on Feb. 25 at the Orpheum Theater.
“The Vagina Monologues, as a play, highlights issues that women and girls face that are exclusive to their gender; and even though violence sees no gender, I think the female experience with rape and domestic violence and incest and empowerment is unique,” said Meg Patton, business manager at VWS.
This years’ show is made up of new and returning cast members, all excited to be a part of something that can make a difference in the world.
Amanda Cleveland, who will be performing the monologue “They Beat the Girl out of My Boy, or so They Tried,” explained that the reason she contributes to the event is because “the ideas of empowerment and reclamation of women’s bodies are important. The experience is healing and cathartic.”
This and other benefit events take place each year across the world in an attempt to raise public awareness concerning violence toward women and girls such as rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation and sex slavery. Eve Ensler, playwright of The Vagina Monologues, founded V-Day in 1998 after realizing the importance of informing people of these issues. V-Day is a global movement grounded in the belief that art can make enough of an impact to inspire people into action and to change the way they think. According to the official V-Day website, the movement has raised over $85 million in just 11 years with all the proceeds going to benefit local violence prevention organizations.
“It is one of our major fundraisers so when you go, you’re really supporting the work that we do. And if for no other reason, go because it’s fun. You cry, you laugh, it’s been a sell-out for us the last couple years,” said Kris Stark, VWS executive director.
V-Day Flagstaff is the second largest annual fundraiser for VWS. The organization uses money generated from ticket sales to provide women in Flagstaff with services they might need. Aside from a domestic violence support group, they offer criminal justice support, crisis response and a victim compensation program, which is one of their larger programs.
“The fact is, that about anywhere between 60 and 75 percent of the clients we work with are women,” Stark said. “So we see in our work that women are victimized at a higher rate than men typically are.”
Audience members will get the chance to find out what makes a vagina angry and learn about the joy of moaning among many other topics covered in the monologues. Most people were probably aware of the on-campus performance Feb. 10 and Feb.11 but this weekend the Orpheum will be featuring three new monologues. Raffle tickets will be offered for purchase for a chance to win a vacation in Las Vegas.
In regards to the male population, “it offers a unique perspective that they probably haven’t been exposed to. I know lots of men who are going and enjoy going,” Patton said. So even if you may not personally have a vagina, The Vagina Monologues promises to be an illuminating experience for everyone who attends.
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