When we were told in class that we had to read the introduction and first part of The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler before the class made a decision about whether or not we would study it, I instantly saw why preparation and careful thought was needed in order to make that decision. The shock value of the book is a little bit unnerving if you aren't prepared for it, and I definitely see why some people felt uncomfortable studying it. Nonetheless, I think that itself, the fact that people did not feel comfortable discussing topics expressed by Ensler is reason enough for the class to study the play.
Class discussion surrounding this play was (in my opinion) certainly carried out with a high degree of sensitivity, but also with some degree of awkwardness. You could see people around the harkness table covering their mouths or sipping from their water bottles to mask their giggles as people said the word "vagina" freely in a classroom setting.
Nonetheless, I do feel as though I learned a great deal from reading the play and from watching clips of it performed. I liked Ensler's message that women should be proud of the fact that they are women, and that vaginas, periods, childbirth and all that comes with womanhood is something to praise and celebrate, not shy away from. She begins her piece with the phrase, "I bet you're worried. I was worried," and I found it effective that she continuously alludes to how touchy a topic she is writing about (Ensler, 3). Later, she declares, "I realize I don't know what's appropriate. I don't even know what that word means. Who decides" and then "Saying these words feels too naughty, dangerous, too direct, too specific, wrong, intense, in charge, alive," (Ensler, 117).
She talks about things that had never crossed my mind before such as dedicating a chapter of her book to women's answers to the question: "If your vagina got dressed, what would it wear?" Some of the answers are outrageous. Women responded with simple things such as "jeans" or "a silk kimono" but others said apparel such as "a large hat full of flowers" or a "costume eye mask" (Ensler, 15, 16). She also talks about more sensitive topics such as rape, genital mutilation, and sexual infidelity but makes sure to throw in funny anecdotes too such as women's stories about menstruation.
Of course, the way we studied the play is very different than watching it be performed. We don't get to see the facial expressions she uses or hear the inflection of her voice change as she speaks. We don't get to hear the tone of her voice change nor see tears well up in her eyes or angry beads of sweat form on her forehead. When watching a video clip of her perform some chapters of the play, it was more moving, and more powerful to watch how completely possessed by the work she becomes. However, in reading the play we do get to take our own interpretation away from the book, as the piece is nothing if not thought provoking. I am certainly glad that our class studied The Vagina Monologues as it definitely caused me to rethink a few things and sparked new ideas.
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