Controversy surrounds upcoming 'Vagina Monologues' production
Published Feb. 9, 2007
In 1998, playwright Eve Ensler established the V-Day movement, a worldwide awareness and advocacy campaign to end violence against women and girls, with the epicenter of each local movement being a performance of her play, "The Vagina Monologues," a series of stories of women and their most intimate of parts.
Next week, MU's sixth annual production of "The Vagina Monologues" will take place in conjunction with the V-Day movement. The production is sponsored by Stronger Together Against Rape and advised by staff members from the MU Women's Center.
The movement has met its share of opposition at MU. A grassroots association sponsored partly by the College Republicans is being established in opposition to the V-Day movement and the performance of "The Vagina Monologues."
Sophomore Amber Hanneken, who is also a College Republicans member and one of the women in charge of the movement to counter V-Day at MU, said though the College Republicans support her organization, this is an MU student issue as opposed to a solely Republican concern.
"Labeling this as an exclusive Republican issue is a common defense used by perpetuators of the play to divert attention," Hanneken said. "This is a student issue, which is why it is called 'Students Against the Vagina Monologues on Campus' on our event page."
Hanneken said the group's opposition to the V-Day movement is rooted in a variety of concerns, including the assertion that the movement undermines Valentine's Day, a day devoted to celebrating positive romantic relationships.
"The V-Day movement is about taking away Valentine's Day, the one day a year used to celebrate every form of love, in the name of stopping domestic violence," Hanneken said. "'The Vagina Monologues' itself is a degrading play that focuses on a woman's anatomy and sexuality instead of her personality or intelligence. This is all under the guise of empowering women."
She said there are other ways to act against domestic violence and that the alternative movement would emphasize raising funds and awareness for the same causes.
"We are gaining support this year in order to put on a Valentine's Day fundraiser next year," Hanneken said. "This would raise money for local violence shelters and campus violence education services."
She said she hopes that the counter movement would promote free speech rather than curb it and encourage students to voice their opinions if they share values that differ from the V-Day movement.
"We want MU students to know that women are worth more than this and that men aren't monsters," Hanneken said. "We want people to not be afraid of speaking out against things that offend them or make them feel degraded. We also want students to realize that the issue of violence deserves much better than this and is not limited to women."
MU Women's Center Adviser Beth Pickens, who also is a staff co-adviser for the production, said the MU population has been supportive of the production.
"We've experienced enormous support from the MU campus and community," Pickens said. "This year, we've experienced wonderful generosity by our donors and campus supporters."
Junior Lucie Macias, who will perform in this year's production, said she encourages MU students to learn more about V-Day and see the show and that in the past, people have had a change of heart from the experience.
"I think the monologue I'm in is very positive," Macias said. "I really think there is a monologue for everyone."
Macias said the negative reaction might offend some participants.
"Basically, it's a bad cycle," she said. "If someone doesn't want to go because they feel it counteracts with their values, no one involved in the project is going to force them. However, people have come with doubts and been pleasantly surprised in the past."
Another cast member, freshman Ashley Crimaldi, said she hopes MU students will come see the show and learn something from it.
"I would encourage those who criticize the Vagina Monologues to keep an open mind," Crimaldi said. "Not everyone is going to accept the Vagina Monologues wholeheartedly, but by coming and giving yourself the opportunity to experience something new and different, I know the experience can be life-changing."