If my vagina could talk...
Well, telling you what my vagina would say seems a bit personal here. If it could go on vacation, it would go to Manuel Antonio to bask on the beach and explore the jungle. It is actually going to Florida to visit with family over Semana Santa, which it is also very excited about.
I was a part of the Vagina Monologues at UPEACE. The show is put on around the world by various groups and organizations to support VDAY, a global movement to fight violence against women. The Monologues are a series of women's stories from around the world. They are about suffering, liberation, freedom, sex and what it's like being a vagina. Women interviewed were actually asked "If your vagina could talk, what would it say?" and similar questions. The result is a show that is provocative, informative, sad and funny.
Auditions were in December and the show took place last weekend, March 23 & 24. The process was long, exhausting, fun and very worthwhile. Indeed this has been a busy month for me. Aside from being a part of the production for the Vagina Monologues I spoke at a Peace Corps conference, attended the Envision festival, and was a part of a team that produced a celebration for the International Day Against Discrimination. I have been meaning to blog about all of these events but aside from being exhausted and busy, I got the flu. So, we'll stick to the Monologues and then see what inspires me next.
Being a part of this production with such a diverse cast was special to say the least. We had women from Canada, South Korea, Burma, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Belgium, Israel and Bolivia. The stories we were telling were also diverse. To hear a woman from Burma tell about how a vagina's hair is there for a reason or a woman from South Korea acting the part of a woman from Kosovo who told us how her body was raped and pillaged, the same as her village, were moving in different ways.
During practice we supported each other. We discussed what our characters went through and compared them to current crisis'. We critiqued and cheered and laughed and cried. Fundraising was a cause for celebration. We hosted clothing exchanges, opened a nail salon in the cafeteria, and held bake sales. Funds went to a Costa Rican shelter for victims of domestic violence. We bonded. Then, on the nights of our performances, we shined!
The audience was just as impressive as the cast. A variety of students, teachers, staff and community members showed up. Many had not seen the Vagina Monologues. I had so many comments afterwards, from both men and women, saying that there were many things about women and their vaginas that they had never considered. One woman confessed that she had never given yearly exams much thought except that she didn't like them. My monologue went into some detail on that topic. The closing monologue is about a woman who watches her sister give birth. She talks about how we often forget about the vagina. After witnessing a live birth, she wonders, how can we forget where we come from? How can we forget what the vagina is capable of? It is, after all, nothing short of miraculous.
Vaginas are not talked about in polite society. Women are not encouraged to look at their vagina, to get to know it. The word 'vagina' does not sound very nice. Most of us seem to be quite uncomfortable with vaginas in general. I guess it is a different experience for everyone, but we should remember that they are there and deserve some respect if not reverence.
My monologue is vulgar. It is vulgar and funny. If you choose to watch it, please note that: 1. These are not my words and 2. you will hear the word vagina many times as well as a lot of cursing. The title of this monologue is "My Angry Vagina".
I was a part of the Vagina Monologues at UPEACE. The show is put on around the world by various groups and organizations to support VDAY, a global movement to fight violence against women. The Monologues are a series of women's stories from around the world. They are about suffering, liberation, freedom, sex and what it's like being a vagina. Women interviewed were actually asked "If your vagina could talk, what would it say?" and similar questions. The result is a show that is provocative, informative, sad and funny.
Auditions were in December and the show took place last weekend, March 23 & 24. The process was long, exhausting, fun and very worthwhile. Indeed this has been a busy month for me. Aside from being a part of the production for the Vagina Monologues I spoke at a Peace Corps conference, attended the Envision festival, and was a part of a team that produced a celebration for the International Day Against Discrimination. I have been meaning to blog about all of these events but aside from being exhausted and busy, I got the flu. So, we'll stick to the Monologues and then see what inspires me next.
Being a part of this production with such a diverse cast was special to say the least. We had women from Canada, South Korea, Burma, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Belgium, Israel and Bolivia. The stories we were telling were also diverse. To hear a woman from Burma tell about how a vagina's hair is there for a reason or a woman from South Korea acting the part of a woman from Kosovo who told us how her body was raped and pillaged, the same as her village, were moving in different ways.
During practice we supported each other. We discussed what our characters went through and compared them to current crisis'. We critiqued and cheered and laughed and cried. Fundraising was a cause for celebration. We hosted clothing exchanges, opened a nail salon in the cafeteria, and held bake sales. Funds went to a Costa Rican shelter for victims of domestic violence. We bonded. Then, on the nights of our performances, we shined!
The audience was just as impressive as the cast. A variety of students, teachers, staff and community members showed up. Many had not seen the Vagina Monologues. I had so many comments afterwards, from both men and women, saying that there were many things about women and their vaginas that they had never considered. One woman confessed that she had never given yearly exams much thought except that she didn't like them. My monologue went into some detail on that topic. The closing monologue is about a woman who watches her sister give birth. She talks about how we often forget about the vagina. After witnessing a live birth, she wonders, how can we forget where we come from? How can we forget what the vagina is capable of? It is, after all, nothing short of miraculous.
Vaginas are not talked about in polite society. Women are not encouraged to look at their vagina, to get to know it. The word 'vagina' does not sound very nice. Most of us seem to be quite uncomfortable with vaginas in general. I guess it is a different experience for everyone, but we should remember that they are there and deserve some respect if not reverence.
My monologue is vulgar. It is vulgar and funny. If you choose to watch it, please note that: 1. These are not my words and 2. you will hear the word vagina many times as well as a lot of cursing. The title of this monologue is "My Angry Vagina".
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