Printer-friendly versionRight now, wherever you are, I dare you to say the word "vagina" out loud. Might be awkward. But why? You've probably called a guy you know a dick at least once. I'll bet you've said balls sometime this week. But there's something about the word vagina that scares the hell out of almost everyone.
Almost.
The Vagina Monologues, a series of monologues by Eve Ensler based on real women's lives, is being produced by the Penn V-Day College Campaign. Proceeds from the show go to Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR), the nation's first and Philly's lone full-service rape crisis center. To discover just how activism, awareness and orgasms that "bring down the house" came together (no pun intended), Street sat down with the producer and organizer of Penn V-Day 2008/The Vagina Monologues, Katy Rose Glickman (also a former Street editor), director Lauren Owens and cast members Mary Calderone (CAS '10), Rachel Garber (CAS '09) and Ilana Milner (CAS '10).
Street: What is V-Day, and why do you think it's important to bring this awareness to Penn?
Katy Rose Glickman: Each year, volunteer activists put on V-Day benefit events in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls. Now, in our 10th year of the V-Day College Campaigns, students like us continue to produce annual benefit performances of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues to raise awareness and funds for local anti-violence organizations within their own communities.
Lauren Owens: The "V" stands for victory over violence; valentine; vagina.
Street: What was the most awkward scene to direct?
LO: I believe [we] enabled the actors to embrace being awkward and funny and honest because let's face it, we all have vaginas.
Street: Why do you think it's important to bring V-Day to Penn's Campus?
Mary Calderone: [V-Day] emphasizes the common ground that women in the Penn and Philadelphia community have with each other and with other women all over the country and the world. This alone is empowering. So many women suffer doubly from rape, as not only do they have the torturous memory of the experience, but they are often judged and treated negatively by others, instead of receiving the compassion they deserve.
Street: Did the recent sexual assaults on campus have any effect on how you put this show together?
LO: The recent sexual assaults on campus just made me more convinced this campus needs V-Day, and that V-Day exists for a reason: until the violence stops!
Street: What are your monologues about?
Rachel Garber: "Reclaiming Cunt" is one woman's enthusiastic explanation of why she uses the word cunt confidently and comfortably.
Ilana Milner: "My Short Skirt" is about claiming and celebrating your sexuality as strictly your own.
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Ok, I said it. It does feel good.
I think the cause is great, but the avenue you use if vulgar. You need to clean up your act if you want people who really love women, their uniqueness, their identity, and their rights. You're going about this the wrong way.
If this is the only effective way for you to communicate, go make an "R" rated movie. You'll make more money, and only those over 17 will get your message. If I was with my child and you wanted to shout obscenities, I would do all I could to get you fined. Not because if your message, but because of your methods.
I first heard about what you stood for and was interested, now I'm completely turned off. There are a lot of things about your anatomy that doesn't interest me, especially the mind who thought of this method of communication.
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