Ensler's Vagina Monologues example essay topic

"The problem for today's 'feminists' is, well, that there is no problem". These are the words of Kerry K. Doyle who submitted a letter to the editor in Saint Louis University's University News stating that modern feminists have become dreadfully misguided. Doyle believes that there are not any more causes worth fighting for or rather even supporting those concerning women's issues. The problem for today's "feminists" is that there are many women who turn away at the sight of any problem that might be considered too "personal". Productions of The Vagina Monologues can be found on many college campuses all over the country.

It has gained popularity increasingly with women from all walks of life through its efforts to unite them. The play also services to the community, donating all proceeds to local women's organizations and shelters. Doyle's largest complaint is that while The Vagina Monologues contributes money to local women's shelters, it "is a crude, gross, demeaning, freak-show excuse for theater". She is personally offended by the "graphic descriptions of genitalia, sex, statutory rape... pelvic examinations and repeated chanting of the most tasteless word for a woman's most private and discreet possession...

". Doyle then states her disapproval of the Planned Parenthood information tables located outside of the theater during the performances. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. runs many health centers nationwide that are committed to the ideals of universal access to services, universal access to sexual education, adolescent services, abortion, early pregnancy detection, and patients' and women's rights ("Mission Statement"). The table that Doyle encountered included information concerning emergency contraceptives. She then wonders "exactly how that is helping unfortunate women". Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues is uncomfortable.

But the truth is often uncomfortable, and if anything, this piece radiates a truth that needs to be heard. Ensler has gone beyond all boundaries. She has spoken with women from an array of cultures, classes, and ages. She has asked them from the most personal questions: "What is menstruating like to you?" to the most humorous questions: "If your vagina got dressed, what would it wear?" She addresses issues that have anything and everything to do with vaginas. The Vagina Monologues, as a work of art, provides emotional support, unifies through humor, educates audiences nationally, and supports women in need. Some do not find themselves moved by this play.

But this in no way negates the fact that it is an incredible source of emotional support and empowerment for women who are now finally given a voice. The piece was created in order to give women a chance to speak out, listen and relate to one another about issues that can no longer remain "private". Doyle has a problem with the discussion of a statutory rape "between a middle-aged woman and a 13-year-old, which is somehow ok?" Of course this discussion is ok! It is ok because of course no one approves the rape, but the discussion of it can lead to awareness. Why are women suffering and not being heard?

Many times situations like this occur and remain "private" for too long and for some women remain so their entire life. Plays that depict these types of situations aid in the victims' healing process. Secondly, The Vagina Monologues has motivated and empowered many women. It encourages women to explore and enjoy their bodies.

"One woman who was seventy-two had never seen her vagina... I felt terribly lucky to have grown up in the feminist era" (Ensler 23). Topics such as menstruating to masturbating, which are taboo in our society, are discussed in such a way that all women feel proud to say they engage in these activities. Furthermore, for the first time female sexuality is presented without being filtered through a "male" perspective. Because our media does little but re-enforce the idea that female sexuality only exists in the context of how it relates to men. The examples are myriad.

Many Cosmopolitan articles often touch on topics like how to please a man in bed. Also, recently the media has raised Britney Spears to the "oxymoronic status of Virgin Whore" (Infante). Lastly, not only "private" issues are discussed that help support women emotionally. A beautiful speech closes the monologues narrated by a woman who has just watched her granddaughter being born. The heart is able to forgive and repair. It can change its shape to let us in.

It can expand to let us out. So can the vagina. It can ache for us and stretch for us, and die for us and bleed and bleed us into this difficult, wondrous, world. So can the vagina. I was there in the room. I remember (Ensler 124-125).

"Dear Miss Carling, Please excuse my daughter from basketball. She has just matured", (Ensler 40). "I associated my period with inexplicable phenomena", (36). "My friend Marcia, they celebrated when she got hers. They had dinner for her", (37). All of the following are explanations from different women concerning their periods.

When one girl asked her mother what a period was, her mother replied "its punctuation... You put it at the end of a sentence", (35). All women seem to find their unity through this wide range of explanations. As Ensler conducted these interviews, she noted that "there was a choral thing that began to occur, a kind of wild collective song. Women echoed each other", (33).

When women go to see this performance, it is safe to say that the interviews may also echo their personal experiences. This is one of the reasons so many are attracted to see this play. Everyone unites through familiar territory, topics, and feelings. And what makes these topics more comfortable to discuss and allows women to connect even more is the humor which is used to present them.

Questions throughout the piece speak of the vagina as if it were a breathing, living being of its own. This provides a few laughs for the audience and lightens the mood of the show. What would vaginas wear? These women can tell you: "A beret... Something formfitting... Armani only...

A large hat full of flowers... Glasses... A tattoo... An electrical shock device to keep unwanted strangers away... High heels...

Combat boots... ". (Ensler 15). Or how about what would vaginas say if they could talk? "Enter at your own risk... No, over there...

Bonjour... Find me... Thank you... Where's Brian?" (21). By approaching a discussion of vaginas in this manner, everyone is bound to fall in love with the light-hearted fun of these silly questions. The Vagina Monologues has launched a whole movement behind it which attempts to educate our society about the violence that still exists against women.

The "V-Day" movement which takes place on February 14th each year hopes to one day end this violence. "V-Day, a non-profit corporation, distributes funds to grassroots, national, and international organizations and programs that work to stop violence against women and girls", ("About V-day"). This movement has been very successful of not just educating women, but men also. At Washington University in St. Louis during 2000, a group of fraternity members posted antagonistic flyers and threatened to disrupt the V-Day event...

The student director invited the men to her production, where they watched in rapt attention. Apologizing to her after the show, they confessed that they hadn't realized the severity of the problem of violence against women (Obey 141). In addition, the production also helps to educate women of resources that are availble to them, one of these being Planned Parenthood. Doyle states that she is not aware of how emergency contraceptives are "helping unfortunate women". Doyle has missed the point here. Often, at productions of The Vagina Monologues, Planned Parenthood is invited to set up information tables so that the audience can be well informed of the services offered to them.

Planned Parenthood offers birth control, teen and women's health services, pregnancy and parenting tips, emergency contraceptives and abortion. Finally, all proceeds from The Vagina Monologues are donated to local women's organizations or shelters. If some do not wish to see the play, they are still invited to donate to the causes it supports. In a letter of response to Doyle's argument, Cristina Blanco wrote to Saint Louis University's University News stating that "The Vagina Monologues helps to educate our community about epidemics like rape, and raise money for local and international projects".

She continued by informing us that "this year, like last, proceeds from The Vagina Monologues will go to Karen House, a local Catholic worker house". The support that is provided for women through The Vagina Monologues is unlike any other that can be found. This play is able through its many ways to unite all women. Through its humorous but yet also serious tone, it calls women to help each other. It makes audiences aware of many issues that usually go unnoticed. The play promotes women and men to help stop violence against women.

The Vagina Monologues is a piece of art that is capable of providing women with emotional support, uniting them, educating audiences, and supporting those in need. In her search for unity Eve Ensler went beyond all boundaries. She spoke with "older women, young women, married women, single women, lesbians... actors, corporate officials... African American women, Hispanic women, Native American women, and Jewish women" (5) among others. She reveals that "women secretly love to talk about their vaginas."They get very excited, mainly because no one's ever asked them before".

And thanks to Ensler, our society has now discovered its very own "community, a culture of vaginas", (3). "About V-Day". 3 Feb. 2003 Blanco, Cristina. Reply to Letter of Kerry K. Doyle.

The University News. 23 Jan. 2003, sec A: 6. Doyle, Kerry K. Letter. The University News. 16 Jan. 2003, sec A: 4.

Ensler, Eve. The Vagina Monologues. New York: Random House, Inc., 1998. "Mission Statement". 2 Feb. 2003 The Vagina Monologues, A Male Perspective. Victor D. Infante.

2 Feb. 2003.