On Monday Mississippi State University’s Gender Studies program presented the Vagina Monologues, a play created by Eve Ensler. Ensler conducted over two hundred interviews with women regarding their views on sex and wrote this production.
The play was created in order to bring awareness to issues that surround women’s sexuality and violence against women. The production included many skits, including one in which Simone Cottrell, performer and graduate student, helped detach the stigma carried by the ‘c-word.’
“This was my second performance with The Vagina Monologues, and I definitely had one of the more fun monologues that hopefully got the audience excited, or at least thinking, about how much weight we give to certain taboo words. It was an interesting take on the destabilization of a certain ‘c-word’ typically used against women,” Cottrell said. “It’s strange how we use our physical organs to insult people, isn’t it? I mean, for a woman, you could either take these insulting words and let it hurt you, or you can really understand the strength of what we’re given and reclaim the words to make it mean what it really does.”
The play ranged from light- hearted and funny with skits like “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy” where Jonette Wilburn gave a hilarious performance of the sounds women make during sex, to serious with the discussion of rape and transgender discrimination with the skit “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy… Or So They Tried” where a group of performers told the story of one transgendered woman’s experience with hate and violence.
Along with these skits came many laughs from the audience when performers played with accents and embraced the stage with “The Vagina Workshop” and “The Flood” skits.
Ashley Baker, gender studies professor and organizer of the production, said the production was meant for both men and women to watch and understand sexual violence is not just a women’s issue.
“I believe it was important for all students, men and women, to see the Vagina Monologues. Sexual violence is not just a women’s issue. It is one that both men and women should be aware of and should take action to prevent,” Baker said. “Additionally, it is important that we learn to remove the stigma of speaking about women’s sexuality. Also, much of the play was hilarious and entertaining, so it was a lot of fun.”
The production was presented in Dorman Hall and raised over $400 for the Safe Haven Domestic Violence Shelter in Columbus.
Sarah Rogers, graduate student and performer in the play, said the production was a great way to address women’s issues and promote the gender studies program.
“Having the Vagina Monologues at MSU was a great way to bring heightened awareness to serious issues that affect women. Although there were some hilarious monologues, more important were the several that addressed rape, genital mutilation and transgender issues,” Rogers said. “I am proud of what gender studies is doing on campus and am happy to have been a part of the Vagina Monologues this year.”
