Vagina, vagina … It never really sounds like a word you want to say,” cast member Alyson Herbert said to the crowd.
Yet the six-letter word took center stage Tuesday night at Lee Hall with the second annual production of “The Vagina Monologues.”
Sponsored by the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, the former Broadway play combined comedy, facts and angst from female true-life situations to help spotlight worldwide abuse of women. This year’s production also included a separate portion titled, “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, A Prayer” in which three males also gave accounts about female mistreatment.
In order to entertain but also inform, monologues focused on issues such as pubic hygiene, masturbation and menstruation. These topics were used as a way to empower women while also showcasing the taboos that still exist in today’s society.
All proceeds from the showing were donated to the Rape Crisis Center in Columbus.
Shaz Akram, director and producer of the program, said while the play’s title might shock those in the conservative state of Mississippi, it helps to garner attention and raise awareness.
“These are difficult issues; people don’t like talking about sex and vaginas,” Akram said. “Those words are just as an excuse to project a very serious issue of abuse and violence, and I am very happy with the turnout and response for this event.”
Every year the playwright, Eve Ensler, focuses on the plight of women in a different part of the world. This year’s production centered on the Democratic Republic of Congo, where, according to the play, more than 300,000 women have been raped, mutilated or killed.
Akram said such human intolerance is allowed by developed nations to satisfy material needs, although most consumers know nothing about the mass torture.
“We are unknowingly paying for a war by buying PlayStations and other electronics that contain ingredients found in African nations in which women are killed,” she said. “If we can make our students aware, then a couple of years from now they will become supporters of such causes. They will become aware consumers.”
Former Mississippi University for Women student Heather Sparks attended the event and said she believes the play is an outlet for women to openly discuss what is on their minds.
“Men run around talking about their stuff all day long and we don’t get to,” Sparks said. “This is the one time we get to do that while also raising important women’s issues.”
Geosciences graduate student Tori Shaw played an English woman who had just discovered her vagina for the first time later in life. Shaw said she never expected to portray such a role.
“Coming from a small conservative town, I had no idea that I would ever be performing in ‘The Vagina Monologues,’ but I am glad I did,” Shaw said. “I hope it opened the audience’s eyes and made them realize how very lucky we are to be here in America.”
Shaw said she hopes the audience learns to become more comfortable discussing female taboo topics.
“The importance of the play is to become aware of violence against women and that everyone realizes that it’s okay to talk about our vaginas,” she said.
Akram said the play, composed entirely of Mississippi State students, will return next year but will run completely on student input.
“Next year, my plan is for students to direct and produce the play and make it entirely student driven,” Akram said. “I think it’s wonderful that students will be the driving force.”
Since the play’s conception in 1996, “The Vagina Monologues” has been performed all over the world and has raised more than $50 million to fight female abuse through its V-Day campaign. To become more involved with the V-Day organization, visit vday.org.