Upon reading a script
of the Vagina Monologues, I find myself having mixed reactions. After reflecting on some of my own
observations as well as reading several reviews, ambivalence seems to be a
normal response to the play. Beginning
with the positives, I felt that the play did an excellent job of opening up a
casual conversation about a generally uncomfortable or just downright awkward
part of everyday life. By making the
play in a dialogue/monologue format, Eve Ensler allows the tension surrounding
the topic to be eased.
Beyond the immediate benefit of
making some difficult conversations a little easier, there were several sections
of the play that really concerned me.
For starters, the play seemed to emphasize too much on sexual
pleasure. In my personal opinion, it
came off as unnecessary and crude for what Ensler was trying to
accomplish. I’m not saying that it has
no place in the performance, but its extent and explicit nature made me (and
probably others) feel a little uncomfortable.
To be fair, I wouldn’t have any desire to see a performance about men’s
sexual exploits and their experiences either.
What stood out to me even more—no,
what angered me—was the segment on the 24 year old lesbian woman who
effectively committed a statutory rape against a 16-year-old girl (who it turns
out was actually 14). I know other
instances of rape are mentioned in the play, and, while heartbreaking, should
be included because they bring attention to a travesty that still happens
everyday in this country and around the world.
What sets this example apart and what makes it so offensive is that the
monologue is treated in a positive manner.
The younger girl is “freed” from her commitment to a heterosexual
destiny. While everybody is entitled to
make sexual decisions regarding their orientation, what is not acceptable is
for an older woman to sexually prey on a younger girl who is legally not capable
of making such a decision.
After reading a number of reviews of
the play, I discovered that many feminists,
especially lesbian feminists, agree with me.
How could a play that is supposed to celebrate femininity and women’s
liberties condone an act of rape?
Clearly the Vagina Monologue has had some positive impacts on women all
over the world. However, this is something
I cannot overlook.
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