Dave Letterman wouldn't say it. Most women even seem to dance around saying it and if they must utter it, intense blushing generally follows. Vagina. It's just the simple term for the female genitalia. So what's making people so nervous?
Eve Ensler wanted to find out. She was sick of the embarrasment, the hesitation and taboo of the vagina. So she interviewed nearly 200 women of all backgrounds about their sexuality, their bodies and, specifically, their vaginas. "At first women were reluctant to talk. They were a little shy. But once they got going, you couln't stop them," Ensler discovered.
These interviews revealed real stories of sexual experience and personal discovery that ranged from wonder and bliss to comic musings, shocking horror and violence. And from these touching tales came, The Vagina Monologues.
In the early days of performing her Obie award-winning play, Ensler found that many women felt inspired to share their own stories of violence with her after they witnesed the stories being told on stage. This too-frequent occurrence is what encouraged Ensler to begin performing The Vagina Monologues as a way to raise funds for organizations working to stop violence toward women. It didn't take Ensler long to realize that her efforts had far reaching and expansive effects. V-Day was born.
V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls by drawing attention to and raising funds for organizations that work to stop violence against females including battery, rape, incest, female genital mutilation and sexual slavery. V-Day, observed on Valentine's Day, celebrates women and the end of violence against them.
On Feb. 14, UWMC will join hundreds of college campuses nationwide in the effort to stop violence against women by performing The Vagina Monologues and celebrating V-Day. And as part of the College Campaign V-Day movement, proceeds from the UWMC Theatre production will go to benefit The Women's Community of Wausau, which celebrates 25 years of service in Marathon County this year. Of the funds to be raised by the performances, Women's Community Executive Director Jane Graham Jennings said, "The money will go into our general operation budget to help any shortfalls we will encounter due to all of the budget cuts on the horizon."
UWMC Director Sarah Rudolph is excited to be part of a movement and production of such importance. "I am happy to be part of it and even more so, [I'm happy] to have my students be a part of what is a worldwide effort to raise awareness and money for the victims of domestic and sexual violence," she said.
The message of V-Day and the intention behind The Vagina Monologues is one Rudolph can certainly agree with. From her own experience she has found that boys tend to learn from a very early age that it's completely natural to talk about their penises and see sexual desire and pleasure as a part of who they are. For girls, however, a different standard seems to exist. "Men may talk about women's genitals and women may commiserate about menstruation and doctor's visits, but there is a kind of taboo about discussing [women's] bodies, unless of course to complain about size, shape or weight," she said.
"Rather than have women and their bodies defined by men and the medical profession, [Ensler] asks women to celebrate what is theirs and to rage against the violations of our bodies that occur in the cases of domestic and sexual violence," Rudolph said.
Helping to expand the definition of female sexuality to encompass to encompass a wide representaion of experience through the campaign, the Reverend Glenda Walder is thrilled with her involvement in the play. "I think [doing this production] is fun and long overdue, not just for Wausau but for our society in general, to finally address the issue of the vagina, bring it out of the closet, so to speak," she said.
At age 69 she may have more of an open mind than others her age. She went to Harvard Divinity School at age 52 and became a minister at age 57. Walker feels the production will receive mixed reactions from Wausau residents. She's already fielded some questions from older people about whether or not the show is too shocking to come and see. "When I was growing up sex and the vagina were very taboo subjects. So while I think some people will love it, some people will be surprised and probably shocked," she said.
Sarah Rudolph has received positive feedback so far from men and women who support this controversial production. "I've actually had a number of women approach me about doing The Vagina Monologues in years past. I guess there was a bit of buzz about the play and it always got back to me as UWMC is the logical venue for it," she said. Students are excited to be involved and The Women's Community will benefit from our efforts."
Tickets for both the 7PM and 9PM Feb. 14 performances can be purchased at the UWMC information desk at a cost of $5 for students, $10 for regular admission and $8 for seniors. For more information call Sarah Rudolph at (715)261-6290.
