Celebrate your anatomy
What’s in a vagina? This question and others are discussed in the film “The Vagina Monologues.” Organized by Victoria Flagg and Stephanie Cram, the film was shown during Wednesday’s lunch period. This year alone, the video will be shown at 1,150 colleges and communities in 54 countries. The effect and the message of “The Vagina Monologues” has sent shockwaves since its creation in 1998 by writer and director Eve Ensler. Ensler has been an advocate to stop violence against women and girls and heads the V-Day campaign. V-Day helps organize large-scale benefits and produces films, parties, and gatherings to educate people about the mistreatment of women and girls. The mission statement of the V-Day campaign “demands that the violence must end [and] proclaims Valentine’s Day as V-Day until the violence stops.” Since its creation eight years ago, this mission statement has spread to 81 countries and has raised over $30 million for various groups and campaign to stop violence against women. “By the virtue of our anatomy, women are at greater risk of so many violations,” says Cram, a psychology teacher at MHCC. About 25 students, both female and male, attended Wednesday’s event. At the end of the event, only four men were present for the screening. “Wimps,” says Peter Manz, a community member said in response to the number of male attendees. “I do this every year, I think it’s interesting. Portland State University’s theatrical department will be performing the monologues, which covers issues like rape, incest, menstruation, masturbation and childbirth among other topics. Performances will be Feb. 23 and 24 at the Portland State University Ballroom. Tickets for students and seniors are $9 and general admission is $12. Proceeds will benefit the Tri-County Sexual Assault Taskforce and the Illumination Project. For more information, contact the PSU Women’s Resource Table Center at 503-725-5672. Though controversy has followed the play through its eight-year run, Cram didn’t shy away from the challenge of making it happen for this year’s Women’s Herstory Event. “The one monologue ‘Reclaiming cunt’ – a few people on the committee asked if we could cut it out. They were concerned about the shock factor and we had a conversation about this being very similar what’s going on with the gay and lesbian community with reclaiming ‘queer’ and this is what it’s really about. Yes, it is shocking.” “The Vagina Monologues” is on reserve at the MHCC Library. For question about this or other Women’s Herstory events, contact Victoria Flagg at 503-491-7533
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