‘Vagina Monologues’ opens up gender discussion on campus

While the name is indeed unusual and may even be a turnoff for some people, “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler is one of the most performed plays on college campuses, mainly due to how it addresses pertinent modern-day gender issues. As such, each year a crew of Columbia and Barnard thespians present the play.

The show tackles a number of women’s issues through a series of monologues designed to celebrate the vagina and, on a deeper level, what it means to be a woman, which makes the play a landmark within the feminist art world.

“In the society we live in, I think there is a lot of shame associated with being a women and having sexual pleasure, with talking about our vaginas, with accepting and loving our bodies,” Kimberly Mackenzie, the producer of the production, said. “Despite all the leaps and bounds feminism has made for women’s rights, we still have a culture that isn’t comfortable with women’s enjoyment and pleasure for their own sake.”

Such discomfort justifies how often the show is performed around the country, though some schools are not as open to the monologues as others. “The monologues didn’t really happen in my undergraduate college, and I knew when I came to Columbia, I wanted to get involved,” Mackenzie, a Columbia graduate student, said.

As the title suggests, it can get graphic. One monologue depicts the comic orgasmic moans—the “triple orgasm,” to be specific—of a dominatrix, while others describe horrific rape scenes that are based on true stories.

Colette McIntyre, BC ’12, who plays a southern lesbian in the production, said, “It will make people feel uncomfortable, since we are talking about genitalia in front of a large audience. But it will also engage them in conversation. We are lucky to live in an environment where people do listen and take these issues seriously.”

But this particular production is not just about starting conversations. Since a huge portion of the play deals with sexual violence, the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Center for Anti-Violence Education. “The play is definitely about combating sexual violence against women while also celebrating them,” director Gita Deo, BC ’12, said.

Another aspect that sets this production apart from those of other years is the involvement of Barnard President Debora Spar, who will introduce the Sunday performance.

“I saw the play last year for the first time and was extremely impressed with the acting,” Spar said. “I think it tackles a lot of issues that are important to address in our community.”