In 1994, Eve Ensler wrote a play based on dozens of interviews she had with women on what we be considered “taboo” subjects. It ended up being a revolutionary peace of art that is now performed on college campuses nationwide. The play is titled The Vagina Monologues and it will be performed once again for one-night only in Winthrop’s Plowden Auditorium.
The Vagina Monologues is commonly performed during the month of February throughout the world as part of V-Season and V-Day, a global event created to raise awareness and stop violence against women. According to vday.org, “the movement grew out of the untold stories of women. We believe their stories need to be heard, nothing is more powerful.” V-Day is now in its 20th year. Since its inception, from Feb. 1 through March 8, “thousands of events take place to spread awareness to the injustice faced by survivors of violence.”
Each year there is a different spotlight related to women’s issues V-Day tries to highlight. This year’s spotlight is women who are incarcerated. According to V-Day.org “a women is more likely to engage in criminal/illegal activites after being abused or assaulted.” Some ways V-day plans to spotlight the issue is by having certain performances/events feature women who have formerly been incarcerated. V-Day is also asking for donations to organizations that help women who have been abused or assaulted.
This year, Winthrop is once-again joining in the cause by hosting a performance of The Vagina Monologues.
Shakira Wiggins, a senior theatre performance major, is stage managing and performing in the show. “The Vagina Monologues mean a lot to me because I feel like the topics from each of the monologues are not normalized enough in the mainstream media,” Wiggins said, “It is important for us as women to share these different experiences with the world in order for us to heal from the negativity around what it means to be a woman. Accepting the female body is something that we finally as a society are moving towards and I think The Vagina Monologues is a great start.”
The Vagina Monologues is directed by senior theatre major Caylen Michels. “I chose to direct the show because of the funny, heart-warming and eye opening stories Eve Ensler has chosen to tell,” Michels said, “This is not just a show at Winthrop but a movement across the globe for women to feel empowered and be proud of who they are and I feel honored to be apart of this movement.”
The Vagina Monologues will play in Winthrop’s Plowden Auditorium for one night only, Feb. 21. Admission for the event is free and students can get cultural credit for their attendance.
