A woman is many things. A woman is deep beautiful eyes that look passionate and emotional. A woman is hair, long and flowing, short and untamed. A woman is an ear, meant for hearing the cries and complaints of her friends as well as tuning out mindless bull. A woman is legs, long graceful and sexy, as well as strong and speedy so as to run at a moment’s notice to the aid of a loved one. A woman is a vagina.
Ask any woman, a vagina centers around pain — the good and the bad kinds. The problem is, most people WOULDN’T ask any woman. Vagina is a taboo word. Periods are something girls don’t tell boys about. Rape is only to be discussed with therapists. And sex is something a girl can only discuss with her closest friends — and that’s under the stipulation that she has a close friend who’s alright with hearing about your latest night out.
The fact of the matter is that 50% of the world is women. These women are constantly struggling with their vaginas (to shave or not to shave? Tampons or pads? Sex, masturbation or abstinence?) and have no one to discuss these issues with.
Until Eve Ensler wrote The Vagina Monologues. The Vagina Monologues is a series of short stories that tell different stories about vaginas. The stories range anywhere from the hilarity of The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy, a story that goes into great detail of the different types of moans a woman can have, to the horrific graphic stories My Vagina was my Village, which goes into detail about a gang-bang rape scenario. As an addition to the original stories that are preformed every year, there’s also a story added each year that is specific to events that have happened that year (for example, the tragedy in Haiti).
Whether you’re into feminism, or think it’s a load of hooey, there are questions and concerns that women face every day that The Vagina Monologues bring to the surface, and EMU is bringing them to its campus. On February 9th, 10th and 11th, EMU’s Womens Resource Center will be preforming The Vagina Monologues for the 12th time. The proceeds from the show (which are acquired from ticket sales, as well as trinkets that have been known to range from t-shirts to vagina wallets) are divided between SafeHouse and FirstStep. Historically, from The Vagina Monologues, the Womens R0esource Center has been able to raise $2,000-$2500 for each facility. Perhaps this isn’t the best opportunity for a hot day with your boyfriend, but come February, you might want to heavily consider taking your girlfriends out for a night of fun and intense discussion.
In the meantime, The Womens Resource Center is looking for women to be in EMU’s performance of The Vagina Monologues. This is your opportunity to add your own perspective and experience to the script through your voice. Rehearsals are January 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th (Wednesday nights) from 6-10 pm, as well as February 6th, 7th and 8th before the play. Other than being at the rehearsals and performances, the only requirement is that you have “a favorite word for ‘Vagina.’”
Auditions are Monday November 14th from 7-10 pm, and Tuesday November 15th from 7:30-10 pm in room 347 of the Student Center. For the audition, you should bring the audition packet, which can be picked up in the Womens Resource Center (room 356 of the Student Center) filled out. You do not have to memorize any of the pieces included in the packet for the audition.
