TVM is a play written by Eve Ensler about women, their sexuality, and of course, their vaginas. It is based on interviews Ensler conducted with women of all different backgrounds, and it consists of separate monologues that are based either on one woman's story, or a compilation of several women's stories. The monologues touched on issues such as menstruation, transgender women, homosexuality, rape, domestic violence, genital mutilation, birth and even the all-important topic of pubic hair. Parts of the monologues were inspiring, others were saddening, and there were some funny parts too.
Saturday was the second time I saw the production. I noticed that
The college girls did perform well in other ways though. The monologue about menstruation is a compilation of many women’s stories. Six or seven girls sit on the stage and read a few sentences at a time, telling dozens of girls’ stories in just a few words or sentences each. The timing of each girl’s lines was well done. When one girl was finishing her few words or sentences another would jump right in without hesitation. The stories of menstruation really bled into one another (pun intended). I thought it gave a really nice effect.
As for the play having a homosexual agenda or being anti-men, I don’t see it. There were monologues that portrayed lesbian relationships positively, but also ones that were positive towards heterosexual relationships. The monologue titled Because He Liked to Look at It was about a woman who came to love herself and her vagina through an experience she had with a man. There was also a monologue about the wonder of birth, which of course would not be possible without the help of a man. There were also parts about rape and domestic violence that portrayed men negatively, but these issues cannot be ignored simply because they are unpleasant. I thought the balance of good and bad was well done. It made the audience realize that the vagina and a woman’s sexuality can be the biggest source of pleasure or pain for her, depending on her experiences. Either way, it is important and should be recognized.
The Vagina Monologues is usually performed near February 14th around the country for a reason. Most people celebrate this date as Valentine’s Day and see it strictly as a commercialized holiday to spend with lovers. The Vagina Monologues has changed this by proclaiming February 14th V-Day. Th
e “V” in V-day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina. It is meant to spread awareness of and help stop violence against women and girls across the world. Proceeds from TVM, including sales of tickets, the infamous pussy-pops (chocolate vulva-shaped lolli-pops), “Vagina Warrior” T-shirts and jewelry, and other donations, raise money for organizations aimed to promote a stop to violence against women. The production itself also allows people to hear actual stories of women who have experienced violence, as well as hearing facts and statistics between some of the monologues.
So the play does an excellent job of raising awareness about violence, but I still left feeling empowered. A girl can’t help getting caught up in that “pussies unite” mood when leaving the show. Spending two hours talking frankly about vaginas is a welcome break from society’s normal hush around the topic, and it feels nice. I recommend this play to any woman. Men can also get a lot out of the show in the sense of awareness and possibly even slightly more empathy towards women, but don’t expect to leave feeling empowered guys. Maybe someone will write The Diaries of a Penis for you or something.
For more information about V-Day and its mission you can visit the V-day Homepage
6 comments:
Great Blog Des! I didn't know you actually went. Unfortunetly our plans were trifled, and my other freinds can't go next weekend either. Guess I'll have to wait until next year! I can't stand people who speak negatively about TVM mainly becuase it says vagina in the title. Big whoop. WHen I was talking about TVM one girl in my class said "WHy would wou want to go to TVM? I wouldn't want to sit around and listen to women talk about thier vaginas." But what she doesn't realize is that it represents more than that, It's art and and it supports women. Any woman against that must be crazy and needs to go back to teh 1800's. Go Pussies!
Vagina is a word that used to elicit giggles from me as a child. Okay, maybe sometimes it still makes me giggle. Blame it on my Catholic upbringing. Sexuality was something that people never discussed unless prefaced with the words "shame and sin." So uttering the word "vagina" was a naughty and guilty pleasure.
I think productions such as TVM, which I've never seen, are healthy for a culture that still contains misogynistic elements. For example, why is it that some of the most vile insults in the English language refer to female genitalia?
The argument that women are no longer deemed the inferior sex is negated by our vocabulary. Men who act cowardly are called "pussies." And there are other insults we use that refer to the vagina that I will not even mention.
And our culture would have women believe there is something essentially dirty with their anatomical parts thus the reason we have a plethora of feminine care products that purport to eliminate female odor, although healthy women with a modicum of hygiene aren't any more predisposed to malodorous genitalia than their male counterparts.
We sneer at women who suffer from hormonal imbalances and dismiss them as overly emotional, irrational, and bitchy, instead of having compassion for their monthly mood swings.
We can credit the fashion world for launching one of the most insidious anti-female campaigns in the history of mankind. By enforcing standards of appearance that celebrate emaciated body types, women essentially shed more than pounds and curves. Dangerously thin, the female body stops menstruating below a certain body weight. Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom decides that the female, lacking the requisite amount of stored body fat, will not be able to sustain a pregnancy.
Young girls who cease menstruation set themselves up for future medical problems including bone loss due to lack of estrogen. An industry that celebrates as beautiful the self-destruction of female bodies is the ultimate proof that misogyny is still a potent force in our culture.
I like that you made the point to express the fact that this is not I "let's bash men" thing. V-Day is about helping women by ending violence, increasing awareness, and having some laughs (especially during the moaning sketch.) It's great to hear people supporting a great production which works to empower women. It was definitely worth my $7. Rock on vaginas!
WOW now I really want to see the play. It sounds so interesting! I think that it is so great nowadays that women can be more open about their sexuality, rather than in the old days when everything was your own personal business. Women's rights have come so far! Good Blog!
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