Vaginas stage takeover

Photo by Larissa Board

Libby Howard (’14) performs in the Chapel at the annual Vagina Monologues.

By Taylor Wallau///Staff Writer
    
VAGINA. How often do you hear the word used, outside of biology class? On Feb. 17, almost forty Lewis & Clark students, dressed to the nines, stood up in front of a packed Chapel, and not only talked about vaginas, but many of them actually shouted the word at the tops of their lungs at the annual performance of Vagina Monologues.

Tyler Rizzo (’14), Womyn’s Center coordinator, believes the event serves as a unique platform to open up the conversation of female sexuality, as a woman’s relationship to her vagina “is not something you bring up at the Bon.” Throughout February, communities worldwide celebrate V-Day by performing Eve Ensler’s collection of monologues, which tackle the taboo subjects of sex and abuse. V-Day was established on Feb. 14, 1998, as a movement dedicated to stopping violence against women by raising public awareness of issues such as rape, sex slavery and mutilation. The Vagina Monologues have been performed in over 140 countries and the V-Day movement has raised over $80 million for anti-violence organizations.

The Womyn’s Center coordinates the event every year, usually right around Valentine’s Day. Auditions are held early in the semester, but anyone who would like to perform is given the opportunity to do so. This year, the event was fully equipped with thematic merchandise, such as “cuntcakes,” creatively decorated cupcakes, as well as t-shirts and beads. Although attendance was free, all of the funds raised from cupcakes, shirts and donations (suggested to be three to five dollars) benefited the Rafael House of Portland, a local domestic violence agency. The beads were sold as part of a separate fundraiser, Bead for Life, which raises money to eradicate extreme poverty through the sale of goods crafted by Ugandan women. They can still be purchased at the Womyn’s Center.

“We’re reclaiming control of female sexuality,” said performer Hannah Miller (’14). Some of the pieces focus on abusive sexual encounters, but many of the stories celebrate women as sexual beings by exploring the positive relationships that they have with their vaginas. All of the monologues were inspired by the interviews with women conducted by Ensler. The stories deal with topics ranging from a woman’s first period to homoerotic sex work to female genital mutilation. The monologues provide a “chance to give voices to people who don’t have the strength or opportunity” to recount their own experiences on a stage, said director Adrian Gebhart (’12). The ultimate goal of the performers and directors is for female-identifying audience members to walk away feeling empowered and male-identifying audience members to gain a better understanding of female sexuality.