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Happy International Women's Day! Today I watched a live performance of something called The Vagina Monologues. It was awesome. Has anyone heard of it? Tell me what you think about the monologues. It was empowering to watch.
Posts: 36 | From: Canada | Registered: Feb 2011
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I have not only heard of it, I have directed and performed in The Vagina Monologues many, many times! Did you have a favorite one?
-------------------- -Andy If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution - Emma Goldman Posts: 435 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Dec 2010
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I think my favourites today were "The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy" and "I Was There In The Room".
I like them all, really. I think "My Vagina Was My Village" was sad and eye opening. I liked "My Angry Vagina" and thought it was funny. "Because He Liked to Look at It" has really interesting.
Posts: 36 | From: Canada | Registered: Feb 2011
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I've performed every monologue except "The Little Coochie Snorcher that Could." I absolutely cannot stand that monologue.
My favorite to perform is "I Was In the Room" because I do slam poetry and I can kind of slam that one. That or "The Flood" because it's just fun.
ETA: I will say that I have somewhat grown out of love with the play and there are some parts of it I vehemently disagree with. I don't think it's been done as well as it could have been, but I think it has brought a lot of stuff to light for a lot of people. The awareness it has raised is unprecedented and the money that various organizations have raised through performances has done a lot of good.
-------------------- -Andy If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution - Emma Goldman Posts: 435 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Dec 2010
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CoatRack, I'm interested to hear what irks you so much about it. Would you be willing to tell me? I recently saw the production and absolutely loved it (my friend was in it...so proud of her!). But it was my first time seeing it, so I have no idea how it has evolved over the years.
Just curious, is all. If you don't feel comfortable that's absolutely fine!
Posts: 168 | From: USA | Registered: Jan 2008
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Little coochie snorcher was originally about a 13 year old girl, not a 16 year old girl and originally ended with the line "If it was a rape it was a good rape." So much of The Vagina Monologues is very angry at men for perpetuating a rape culture and I just do not like that monologue for portraying sexual abuse as "ok" if it's by a woman.
-------------------- -Andy If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution - Emma Goldman Posts: 435 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Dec 2010
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Oh my goodness I had absolutely no idea about that! I can't believe they would change it and decide to keep it...that's really surprising. And hypocritical.
If I may be truthful, while I liked the monologue "He Liked to Look at It", I had some trouble with the...attitude. The whole idea that "wow, a woman ACTUALLY had a good experience with a MAN". I felt like it was almost...counter-productive in a way. I just remember feeling kind of self-conscious for liking men and having had good experiences with men, like that was unusual or weird. And I know The Vagina Monologues really aims for inclusion, especially of all women.
Sorry, I just wanted to get that out. After I read your post, I started reflecting back on the performance.
Thanks so much for your thoughts, CoatRack =]
Posts: 168 | From: USA | Registered: Jan 2008
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As you can imagine there are usually about 2 million inside jokes that come along with being involved in the production of TVM. In almost every cast I've been on there's been SOME joke about "Bob" and how "ordinary" he was. "Why was Susan late?" "Well, SHE DOESN'T EVEN DRIVE FAST!"
I agree with you, though. A good portion of what the monologues do is really fabulous, but there are a lot of things like what you brought up here that, over the years, have started to make me more uncomfortable.
-------------------- -Andy If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution - Emma Goldman Posts: 435 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Dec 2010
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I'm glad you disliked that part, too. That older woman also has said to the 13, later 16 year old girl that “Your vagina, untouched by man, smells so nice, so fresh, wish I could keep it that way forever.” Ouch! Sounds like a predator, fetishizing virginity, and also giving her the message "don't you dare be bisexual". I was very surprized to see how relatively new the play is, I supposed it was much older.
Sleeping with men is not betraying the sisterhood, goddamnit. >:[
Posts: 118 | From: hungary | Registered: Mar 2010
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And liking sleeping with women as well as liking sleeping with men, maybe but not necessarily at the same time or even during the same relationship , is not betraying the sisterhood either. (Not speaking from the experience of a sister, obviously. I just like to help remove unfair stereotypes whenever I can. And especially bi-invisibility!)
PS: Part through the editing I realised the meaning behind the previous post. But there is still some stuff in my post here that is still relevant, so I'll leave it.
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, is not betraying the sisterhood either. 
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