V-Day

This post is for everyone interested in the idea of empowering women. Last night I saw the most amazing play I've seen in a long time. The Drexel Players (Drexel's theatrical group) put on a play called the Vagina Monologues. The Vagina Monologues was actually a book written by Eve Ensler. The show was about the different stories and experiences women go through, told from the point of view of the vagina.

Since the book was based on interviews with all kinds of women, there were many points of view. There was a married woman, a lesbian, even a woman who explained how one man changed her life and her self esteem. There was a woman explaining the beauty of birth and another scene where a six year old girl was asked about her vagina.

The most touching scenes were the more serious stories of what women go through. There were two stories about rape. One about a little girl being raped by her dad's friend, and another story about a little girl being raped by soldiers during a war. Towards the end, another actress spoke about the similarities between how we have treated New Orleans and how we treat women (we say that New Orleans is rich and vibrant, but then when we want to demean it, we say its swampy and damp etc.). Although these things are hard to hear, and hard to accept, they do happen.

Despite the moments of sadness, the Vagina Monologues was about women loving themselves, their bodies, and most importantly, their vaginas. Some people reading this may find what I'm saying taboo, but like a young lady said at the play last night, women are their vaginas.

All the proceeds made last night were donated to the Lutheran Settlement House Bilingual Violence Project. The Drexel Players and all the people who attended the Vagina Monologues last night (and will attend tonight) have made a major contribution to reducing or ending violence against women and girls. Celebrate being happy, loving yourself, and for those love ladies out there, celebrate having a vagina!

I Love You All!!

Shanowya (Greatness Personified)