On February 18, Stevens held its 16th annual VDAY as part of a global movement to protect and empower women. Members of the College of Arts and Letters’ Literature Faculty, the Women’s Fencing Team (who recently won their second straight conference title), and the DeBaun Performing Arts Center presented Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues to an engaged audience. All proceeds from the production and accompanying raffle were donated to the Domestic Violence Program of the WomenRising, Inc. YWCA of Hudson County.
The production was received very well, with participants and audience members alike feeling impressed and engaged by the dynamic tone. Stage Manager Stephen Walker describes the power of the event as stemming from the “more relaxed tempo and higher level of directness than other shows; it balances seriousness and blatant humor to communicate the gravity of its message.” One woman in attendance comments that she’s seen performances of The Vagina Monologues at many locations and yet, the Stevens’ production of the play was “special in its inclusion of women of diverse ages, ethnic groups, and personalities.”
The play, first performed in 1996, is an artistic compilation of stories about women and girls from many different backgrounds. It addresses female sexuality and abuse in its twofold mission to celebrate all females and decrease violence against women.
The accounts were inspired by a series of over 200 interviews in which women and girls from 6 to 75 were asked to talk about their vaginas. “If your vagina got dressed what would it wear?” and “If your vagina could talk, what would it say, two words,” are two prompts that were given to every interviewee. The wide range of answers demonstrates that femininity cannot be simply described as soft or hard, weak or strong, docile or wild. Rather, each woman embodies her womanhood in a unique way.
Some of the most poignant monologues are stories about domestic violence and abuse. When asked which section had resonated the most for them, freshman audience members Sydonia Littlefield and Ruthy Levi both replied, “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy.” This monologue combines the experiences of several transgender women. According to Sydonia, the reason this piece is so impactful is because “transgender issues are very present in our society today; and yet, you still see accounts of transgender people being physically and emotionally abused for just trying to be themselves.” This pushback against the acceptance of members of the LGBTQ+ community is evidence that violence against women is still a problem in society today. As put by Ruthy, “The Vagina Monologues are important because they tackle issues that haven’t been addressed enough.”
Another monologue that deals with violence against women is “The Little Coochi Snorcher that Could,” which tells the story of a woman, who after years of sexual abuse by men and women, eventually learns to love herself and others. Taia Harrison, a student who has participated in the production for the past five years, describes the impact of this piece as “eye-opening, because it makes you admire women in a new way and helps you to understand the struggles other women go through.”
Though society has grown more accepting and understanding of women since The Vagina Monologues were written, there is much room for growth. According to Stevens Entrepreneur in Residence and second-time participant in Stevens’ VDAY Adrienne Choma, “there has been progress – especially on the legal front – but sexism is still very present in many places. Now more than ever, we need to continue our support of women who face discrimination and abuse.”
