The Vagina Monologues He Said/She Said

He Said: Confusing Vaginas with Politics

Over Valentine's Day weekend my college campus was obsessed with one word. It was not "love," "lust," or the over-commercialized term "valentine." No, thanks to the run of student performances of "The Vagina Monologues" it was "vagina." That's right. The "unmentionables" were anything but, and rightly so. And while the play is meant to be a tool for social justice and promotes a number of good causes, I found the way it was marketed on my campus counter-productive at best.

Before I continue, let me admit that I consider myself a "The Vagina Monologues" connoisseur. I have now seen the play twice: once at the National Theater in Washington, DC and again last week on campus. Though I am a man, I do believe I can understand women's issues with an optimistic, open mind. But, last week's upheaval forced me to realize one undeniable fact. Every side of the political spectrum applies the same kind of rhetoric and showmanship to win over popular support -- whether they are conservative or liberal, hawk or dove, chauvinist or feminist.

I don't believe "The Vagina Monologues" is about undermining masculinity or hating men. The work is about empowering women by placing the word " vagina" into the public vocabulary as well by focusing in on women's hopes, fears, and strengths. It hopes to get rid of the taboos surrounding female sexuality, and spread a message of acceptance and understanding. "The Vagina Monologues" effectively mixes comedy and serious issues. The audience is silent one moment and filled with laughter the next. The monologues juxtapose stories of rape, abuse and cultural stigma with lighter, often embarrassing hilarity. Yet, instead of being a clichéd emotional roller coaster, the play pushes its audience to empathize with the characters through traumatic experiences but then places the audience safely on solid ground by the play's end. Though it is considered vulgar by some (and blasé by others), I found "The Vagina Monologues" an inspiring and fascinating play.

	Screaming terms for female genitalia out loud will probably never solve problems like unequal pay between genders, lack of support for single mothers, or contraceptive rights.

That said, my problem is not with the play itself but with the way it was promoted on my campus. If I was to judge the play by its publicity last week, I would be frightened and outraged as a man. Anticipating an orgy of militant feminism, I was hardened by loud signs with the word "VAGINA" written in an enormous font plastered to every campus bulletin board. After spending my five dollars for an advance ticket, I was then confronted by a vendor's abrasive attitude. When I questioned the needless politicizing of the play, I was told that every day was a performance of "The Penis Monologues." These kinds of statements seemed meant to intimidate me. And it didn't stop there. When, later that week, a prominent alum requested that his family name be removed from a dormitory hall a group of counter-protesters appeared with an enormous banner proclaiming the building, "Vagina Hall."

This recent scolding, righteous posturing by feminists on my campus frankly does not win my support. Actually, it even discourages endorsement by many in its target audience: women. Last week the angriest students on campus were female, not male. An editorial against V-Day and its extreme politics in The Boston Globe was photocopied hundreds of times over and circulated across campus. The culprit? A female student.

"The Vagina Monologues" does not widen the scope of feminism -- it anchors the fight to one word. Women are certainly more than that; their issues with the modern male-dominated world are much more complex, as well. It appears that the feminists today believe combating the discomfort surrounding female sexuality will win the bigger war waged in society. And, while I agree that language is important, it should not be focused on exclusively.