‘Vagina Monologues’ highlights taboo topics
It’s a word so uncomfortable that people avoid saying it, said Jordan Ames, the assistant director of the Vagina Monologues.
“People get really, really uncomfortable when you talk about a vagina,” Ames said. “The word ‘vagina’ is kind of a taboo.”
The Vagina Monologues took place in the TSC Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12-14. Jamie L. Huber, the program coordinator for the USU Center for Women and Gender, said the monologues are a way to promote the sexuality of women.
“The monologues work to break down the mystery and stereotypes of women sexuality,” Huber said. “Feminism is definitely present within the monologues, but it is not a specific focus of the monologues.”
This was the third year USU students have casted and directed the Vagina Monologues, said Michelle Bogdan, the director of USU’s Access and Diversity Center.
“This year we have done a slight change in that it is still completely student supported, cast and directed, but we have stepped in as the Women and Gender and Access and Diversity Center to step in lend support,” Bogdan said. “We see the value in it as an opportunity for students to learn more about and issues that are happening all around the world.”
The monologues are composed of a series of interviews conducted by playwright Eve Ensler from women around the world.
“Mine talks about all the things that women go through,” said Annie Lantis, who performed the monologue “My Angry Vagina.” “Tampons, exams we have to go through and different things like that. Mine has really funny, funny parts, and it really makes people say ‘Yeah, I hate that,’ or ‘Yeah, that’s funny,’ and it’s OK to hate that and it’s OK to laugh about it.”
Other monologues are about women who have experienced sexual assault and rape.
“Everybody knows that rape happens, but nobody how often,” said Alaina Kelly, who performed the monologue “The Little Coochie Snorcher.” “In my monologue, it was her father’s best friend. She was 10 years old, and her father’s friend got drunk and raped her.”
Ames said she noticed the monologues the audience found most discomforting were those that talked about rape and sexual assault.
“It’s a lot easier to imagine a world that doesn’t have those things, and when you’re forced into thinking that, it can be a scary thing,” Ames said.
According to Lantis, this is an elemental part of the monologues.
“It gave my … one of my sisters the strength to tell people that she had been sexually abused,” Lantis said. “She came to see it last year and finally came to terms with it. It has given me to the strength for me to be myself, to see people not feel ashamed about what has happened to them, and that’s the whole point of the show.”
According to audience member William Kent, the monologues were not what he expected.
“What surprised me was how beautiful and smart the women were,” Kent said. “It made me realize how much political correctness surrounds the word ‘vagina.'”
According to Ames, another goal of the Vagina Monologues is to encourage men and women to accept their sexuality.
“It’s a movement to get people up and dancing and celebrating life, to be unafraid to tell stories whether it is just growing up or assault and rape,” Ames said. “It really helps not only women but men to do the same.”
– katherine.l.larsen@gmail.com