From Vagina Monologues to STEM

          From a young age children realize both the anatomical and social differences between girls and boys. As we have been reading, this "realization" is learned and instilled by society by the types of toys children are given, the way they are taught in school and other social influences. The knowledge of ones body is an important thing for children to learn. I grew up on a home where sex and one's body was not discussed, EVER. I learned about the differences between men and women's bodies in school and in a 13 minute lecture the lesson about sex. I never got the birds and the bees talk. Watching the vagina monologues really opened my eyes to the different experiences women have and talk about. Having studied biology and taken several psychology classes I was most interested in the "Hair" monologue and I personally believe that it is society that is the ultimate cause of many of the issues addressed by the vagina monologues. In a critique by Jenae S., the author states that the Vagina Monologues made her feel uncomfortable because of "the idea that a vagina makes a woman, and that all women are ultimately reduced to their vaginas". In our production, I think that this issue should be addressed as well and that great effort should be taken to show that there is no stereotype for STEM students and that women and men of all ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations can thrive in the STEM field. In Schiebinger's chapter on the clash of the cultures, she states that many times pointing out the differences and the conflicts only creates greater division and perpetrates the issue (Schiebinger) . I think that one goal of our production should be to unite people and to encourage coalition and friendship as a way to bring about change in the STEM field.
           The Vagina Monologues are a great resource for our production and i thoroughly enjoyed watching them, so much that I will make a point to take my friends to the next production of the vagina monologues! However, I also think that its target audience is women and that our production needs to be accessible to both sexes. By making it accessible to both sexes, we will increase the likelihood that our message will be heard and that action will be taken to bring about change.