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Posted March 14, 2008

Sher Porter
Web Editor

For those of you who didn’t know, it’s Women’s History Month. Yes, we do get a month to celebrate the accomplishments of women from the past and present knowing that the legacy will continue in the future.

One of the events that kicked off Women’s History Month at the University of La Verne was the showing of the two plays last weekend, “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer” and “The Vagina Monologues.” Both plays talk about the mistreatment of women, societal views about women and the effects those have on women.

This is the third year “The Vagina Monologues” has been performed here, but this year was the premiere of “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer” on campus. Both plays are part of the V-Day organization which works to stop violence against women. This is its 10-year anniversary.

This year I was fortunate to be a part of the V-Day celebration as one of the dancers for the “Vagina Monologues” performance. We opened the play dancing to “Sisters Are Doing it For Themselves” by the Eurythmics and closed dancing to Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter.”

Although I was not part of the core of the play, by acting out a monologue, I did feel a connection to the play even with the small role I did play. I think even those that were not part of the play felt a connection to it, even some of the men.

I saw the play last year and was moved by it. I decided then that I wanted to be a part of it the next year, and I was. The messages of women finding power and beauty within themselves were uplifting and encouraging.

When I first heard of the play, I had no idea what it was going to be about. I mean “The Vagina Monologues” does sound a little awkward.

Anyone could take any type of perception they want about the play just by hearing the name. Even after seeing it and being in it, I still don’t know how to explain it.

One of my best friends said it best. She said it was about the struggle of women represented by the vagina. I think using the vagina was perfect for describing all those emotions, feelings and experiences.

Think about it. Sexual abuse happens through the vagina. One of the body parts that women hate most is the vagina. The part of the body that gives us the most grief is the vagina. The part of a woman that men take advantage of the most is the vagina.

Also the part of the body which helps bring new life into this world is the vagina. Not to mention the body part that most men adore is the vagina.

The vagina can do so many things and can be viewed in so many different ways. Allowing the vagina to speak for women is very appropriate.

Unfortunately there were still some people after the play who did not like it. Obviously there’s not going to be a unanimous decision that “The Vagina Monologues” was a wonderful production because this world is not perfect.

Some people thought it was just about women complaining about what they want because of monologues like “My Short Skirt” and “My Angry Vagina” but those people completely missed the point. They are not about women complaining, they are about women wanting respect and wanting to be treated as we wanted.

Maybe those who did not understand should have seen “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer” first because that play emphasized the way people, not just women, are abused either by others or by themselves. It also let’s us know that there is still some good left in the world and that goodness needs to spread to everyone.

At the end of “The Vagina Monologues,” the actors had the audience members stand up if they had ever been abused, known someone who had been abused and if they would stop abuse if they saw it.

At both nights of the production, everyone who was able to was standing in Founders Auditorium. It was an amazing sight.

I am proud of the production and everyone who worked on both plays. I hope anyone who saw the play was just as encouraged as I was to see it.
Next year I hope I can read a monologue. If not, just being in it is fine with me.

Sher Porter, a sophomore journalism major, is news editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at sporter4@ulv.edu.