The Vagina Monologues: 20th Anniversary Edition

‘The Vagina Dialogues”, the 20-Anniversary Edition, was originally a stage monologue created by a performer and artist, Eve Ensler. As she toured cities, first in the United States in 1994 and later in other countries, she discovered women all over the world, including Afghanistan and Pakistan where she had illegal shows, word of which had been spread by word of mouth, had all experienced patriarchal or societal body shaming in being a woman.This edition includes the comments and stories from women all over the world. Women cried during her shows, and many waited hours to see her backstage to tell her of their personal horrors. Often, women did not know how to speak of what crimes, like rape, that had happened to them until seeing Ensler’s show. Many women do not know the name of the bits of their vaginas. Many women have never had an orgasm. Many woman can’t find, or even know about, their clitoris. They were not permitted to express themselves in any way of their traumas before. Most had never seen their own vaginas since they had been taught all of their lives to see this body part as disgusting and shameful.(Hint: a hand mirror, and *I can’t believe I have to mention this* even courage to go against your societal/religious teaching.)Gentle reader, do you see most men feeling like this? Tell me true, young women of today, has the man in your life sent you a penis picture? No? That’s a rarity…and it is very likely all men young and old know exactly what every centimeter of their penises look like.Since men considered women a shameful less-than beast because of their body parts, it’s clear men feel empowered to rape, beat, and use women as they see fit. Men who have been perceived to possess feminine qualities are painted by the same brush of masculine scorn, so the Movement now includes them. The V Movement, as it has been renamed, is still continuing to provide NGO support all over the world today.Vagina is a dirtier, more shameful word than penis everywhere in all societies. Why is that, gentle reader? After all, it actually is a proper word, used by doctors and medical personnel. Is it possibly because all societies, patriarchal in nature and/or in their early formation, have normalized the belittling of women, including their bodies, and so the sexual-organ shaming of women is an important tool to maintain a Master/Slave relationship? To create an environment where victims willingly victimize themselves? To create an environment where victims refuse to speak out loud of the crimes committed by perpetrators because the words have been taught them to be “dirty” and that it is more shameful to SPEAK of crimes done against women’s vaginas than the crimes themselves?What crimes am I speaking of? Rape, of course, is the main one. Believe it or not, rape has been normalized in many countries as a natural consequence of war and poverty and going to college or trying to be a professional of any kind, like in acting and sports. But there are the cultural taboos of hiding the facts of menstruation and of women having sexual desire.Women today are forced to hide the fact they are menstruating because it is not only considered “shameful” in most countries, but it is considered a pollution, a poison, a befoulment, a contamination, in many countries and religions. Check out by googling what women are required to do while menstruating, and afterwords, to “cleanse” themselves back to body and community “purity.” Or just ask your rabbi, minister, cleric or iman - if the primarily religious male leaders can bring themselves to “befoul” themselves speaking on the subject of menstruating. In SOME cases, they will say purification rites are a thing of the past, but in most theological countries, “purification rites” for women who are or have finished menstruating are still required. Mothers are emotional wrecks talking to their daughters about menstruation - why? And why are tampons taxed or made unavailable to many women around the world? Because often tampons are considered unessential or embarrassing (why?), or the men in charge do not want to *think* about it. Or women are, shocker, EMBARRASSED.Thankfully, agencies, NGO’s, and many organizations are “on it” whether it be in the form of providing women’s doctors and clinics, or in-home private meetings and classes, teaching women everywhere about their vaginas. “The Vagina Monologues” includes an intensive history of and what is happening today in The V Movement.There is a short bibliography. Of course, googling for further info brings it too.Let’s get this done, people. Inform yourself. Women, we are all beautifully and gloriously well-designed! Men, if you love your daughters, your mother, your sisters, you know what you should do. Be proud of them.Btw, the clitoris is the ONLY organ in all bodies, male or female, that is designed explicitly for pleasure alone. Religious folk should reflect on that.

…as it were.I first saw these monologues performed in London, sometime in the late ‘90’s. I went with a British buddy, and both of us were fascinated by the reviews (and admittedly the topic). After a brief survey of the audience, which seemed to be primarily women, with a few male significant others in tow, I concluded that we were probably the only straight – or otherwise – men who had simply come to enjoy the performance. And that was a pity, since I concluded that I loved its “edginess” and “consciousness raising,” and was mainly surprised that it had not been done before. After all, isn’t this a rather obvious topic? And what sort of repression has been operative to make the v-word so difficult to say, not to mention the much more guttural slang words for same? A central theme of the monologue is to stop violence against women. Eve Ensler, who conceived of the monologues, and in the earlier versions, read the entire work, deserves an immense amount of credit for its production, then, as well as her continued efforts now.So… coming up on two decades after watching the performance, as part of my current reading program of significant plays, I decided to read it this time. Again, I felt the anger and outrage with some of the following: “In the United States, the last recorded clitoridectomy for curing masturbation was performed in 1948 – on a five year-old girl.” (Source: The Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets). And: “For the last ten years I have been actively involved with women who have no homes… ‘home’ is a very scary place, a place they have fled, and that the shelters where I meet them are the first places many of them ever find safety, protection, or comfort, in the community of other women.”“The Little Coochi Snorcher that Could” ?? With the subtitle of “Southern Woman of Color.” Like some other reviewers, I have a LOT of objections to this piece. What was Ensler thinking… or not? It conveys the traumatic upbringing of a southern black girl. At the age of ten, she is raped by her father’s best friend, and the father, in turn, shoots, and paralyses the rapist. Additional traumatic events occur to her, but somehow it seems to be put right when she is 13, and seduced, with the help of alcohol, by a 24 year old woman. How can this possibly be justified, and portrayed in a positive light? Sex via power, and one of the most powerful modes is an enormous age discrepancy (and a bit, or more, of alcohol). There are some wise laws, and in New Mexico, it is NOT illegal for someone under the age of 16 to have a sexual relationship with someone, IF, that person is no more than three years older than the other person. And if that person is, it IS illegal. Ensler seems oblivious to this issue, but has modified the Monologues in some subsequent productions to have the child be 16, and delete the alcohol. A “good” rape, as it was originally depicted? I think not.Furthermore, I would have loved more on, as Ensler wrote in one piece: “Discovering the key, unlocking the vagina’s mouth, unlocking this voice, this wild song.” A better more positive balance would have gotten more men into that theater.And where does it stand today? About 30% of this Kindle version are letters and testimonials from women – in the main – and how the play changed their lives. They were now full supporters of “V-Day,” a sincere effort to utilize Valentine’s Day as an effort to also stop violence against women. A couple of letters were from individuals at the University of New Mexico. Today, “V-day”, as depicted on UNM’a website, has been “moved,” and is still awaiting an update. Alas.Great idea, reasonably edgy execution, with some serious conceptual flaws. 3-stars.

The Vagina Monologues is a stage piece, and it works *much* better on stage than it does as a pure book. As a stage show, it is thought-provoking, funny and appalling. A good production of this piece picks you up and carries you along. It has something to say to almost everyone, regardless of whether you are comfortable saying the word "vagina" or not.Somehow, when I read the play, I am less captivated, and more aware of the flimsiness of the words. But the point of the thing is its performance. It is clear, from the afterword to the book, and from people I know who have been involved in productions, and from lots of people who have seen the show, that involvement with a production of this piece can change someone's life. And it really is an engaging piece: funny and moving.When I first heard about the project (an attempt to address a culture where people rarely say the word "vagina", but there are thousands of words for "penis"), I thought it would be interesting and useful to people who aren't comfortable saying "vagina" out loud. Since I have no problem saying it, I thought it would have little relevance to me. When I saw the performance, I knew I had been wrong. But I don't know if I would have gotten that from the book alone.I am giving this book five stars, because it works as it is intended to work: on stage. And I am glad I own it, because it is nice to dip into from time to time, when I want to recapture the effect of being in the audience. Plus, the afterword to the "V-Day" edition is extremely interesting and moving.

Eve Ensler interviewed hundreds of women about their vaginas. Some of the monologues were told verbatim and others were a composite. All of them were told with love and respect for the women who shared maybe for the first time. This book and accompanying play is an emotional rollercoaster Some times sad, sometimes hilarious but always beautiful. It tells us that women still have a long way to go in order to feel respected and equal. I know that these monologues and the way they are told has been a great hit with women on several continents. But men must see it and men must be moved by it if we are going to get anywhere.The book has a slight advantage over the play because it was foreworded by Gloria Steinem. Which brings to light many important facts about women in society and although she is a feminist she doesen't like to divide people into different groups. We all need to move forward together. She also gives us little tidbits of information. Such as how many patriarchal religious buildings resemble the female reproductive system. With the vestibule doors representing the Labia Minora and Labia Majora. The vaginal aisle leading to the uterus alta with rounded ovarian structures on either side. As well as how the symetrical shape we all consider to symbolise the heart, more truly resembles the Vulva or Yoni, which it was probably originally meant to symbolize.This book teaches us not to be afraid to use the word vagina. One quote says 'What are we saying about our bodies if we can't say vagina'. If you are visiting a Doctor and want to be taken seriously. Don't say 'It's my front bottom.'

Many years ago a female friend went to see the stage presentation, and she said it was extremely funny, so when I saw the book advertised I bought it.I found it to be extremely disappointing because it simply wasn't what I expected. It dealt with the mistreatment, abuse, rape and general subjugation of women. These are all serious issues, and deserve to be highlighted, but I expected to be entertained and I wasn't.

I found this book frustrating. Frustrating as every tale is written from a position of female helplessness. Whilst some of the stories are about children, we should not conflate a child's helplessness with that of women. Reading a piece about being angry that tampons were not ideal, I found myself wanting to yell 'well do something about it then'. Remember ladies, the patriarchy won't smash itself, so do something with your power.

The book itself is very good. But not for me. I was looking for good female monologues fro drama school but couldn't find something that excites me. The stories on this book are quite amazing; the experiences shared...etc. Like I said, I was unable to find a monologue that I particularly liked as this nook only contained short experiences rather than a whole play. And for drama school, they want you to have read a whole play and not short stories. But VERY well worth reading. It makes us women feel that we are in charge. Great book!

Never judge a book by its cover... Thus is a very challenging read. You have to read it to believe sole of the stores you read and the background behind the book...