V for vagina: ‘Vagina Monologues’ plays at Special Events Center

“VM=smut.”

“Reject VM”

“No rape is ‘good rape.’”

These messages have been scrawled in chalk on sidewalks all over Boise State University’s campus. Their purpose? The messages act as protests to the BSU Women’s Center annual production of Eve Ensler’s Obie Award-winning play “The Vagina Monologues.”

“The Vagina Monologues” will open at the Student Union Special Events Center Friday, Feb. 23, marking the seventh year it has run at BSU.

Ensler wrote “The Vagina Monologues,” after interviewing hundreds of women about their bodies, particularly their vaginas.

From there, Ensler created a series of monologues which the Women’s Center website describes as “frank, honest responses from everyday women that provide the audience the opportunity to examine some of the lessons that women are taught about their bodies and their sexuality.”

In other words, the monologues seek to educate the public on women’s bodies and what they may have been initially taught.
A little honesty never hurt anyone, so why proclaim “VM=smut?” Because the play’s subject matter has raised a few eyebrows in the past.

For example, one monologue titled “The Little Coochie Snorcher that Could,” describes a 16-year old girl’s sexual encounter with an older woman.

This monologue provides the basis for the above chalking “No rape is ‘good rape.’” In an earlier version, it described the young girl as 13-years old saying “if it was rape, it was a good rape” after her encounter with the older, sexually experienced woman.

This sparked the argument that the play celebrated rape.
The age of the girl later changed and the line was removed. 
However, supporters of the play say it does more good than harm. In fact, “The Vagina Monologues” became a driving force behind a grassroots movement called V-Day, the “V” standing for “victory, valentine and vagina.”

According to www.vday.org, “V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery.”

The website also explains that “The Vagina Monologues” are performed annually in many communities, with the funds going towards local awareness and “anti-violence” groups.

Despite all this, the play receives its fair share of criticism. Many students have already voiced their disapproval through the chalkings on campus.

For students who have not viewed “The Vagina Monologues” yet, the only way to fairly evaluate the play for themselves is to attend one of the performances this weekend or read a copy of “The Vagina Monologues.”

“The Vagina Monologues” will play at the SPEC Feb. 23-25. All performances will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through Select-a-Seat outlets. For more information on BSU’s production, visit the Women’s Center Website at http://womenscenter.boisestate.edu.

Additional information on “The Vagina Monologues” and V-Day can also be found at www.vday.org.

Francy Marcotte

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