By, Alisa Yardley
I decided to read The Vagina Monologues because I was curious. I'd heard about it several times, but had never seen a production or read the book. Once I began, I couldn't put it down. It was so unusual. Accounts of women talking openly about their vaginas, wasn't, in my experience, standard reading.
I found myself surprised to learn there were adult women who had never really looked at their bodies intimately, having been taught to think of the vagina as the centre of sin at worst, and functionality at best. Several humorous accounts drew me in further and had me laughing out loud more than once. Then the book takes a turn. It gets serious. It talks about rape. It talks about female genital mutilation. There are personal accounts of horrors endured, and survived.
As a woman, knowing and understanding the sensitivity of the vagina, knowing and understanding the value placed on our sexuality, and the depth of emotion linked to our intimate experiences, I found it both heartbreaking, and empowering. Here was a way for women to fight back. Those many who have been silenced, shamed, reviled, misunderstood and blamed, now had a way to find their voices and be heard. Here was a place for women to take ownership of that which is sacred to us; to fully appreciate the miracle of the entire body and all its parts... even the private ones. It reminds us we have the deciding vote when it comes to our bodies, and our sexuality. We can say no. We can say yes if we want to. We choose!
I was impressed. The Vagina Monologues is a fantastically arranged set of stories and information regarding women and womanhood. Where it lost me - originally - was in the lengthy add-on to the Anniversary Edition. It read like a newspaper article or a website listing its history of accomplishments. In some ways it seemed like a pitch to convince me after I had already been convinced. It was interesting, but I felt obligated to read it because it was within the covers of the book, and I thought I would have preferred to read it online by visiting their website... But opinions change, and mine did when I happened upon a documentary on Netflix called The City of Joy that brought the entire experience full circle.
The City of Joy is a safe haven that was built in Africa to house women who have suffered rape, often, as a result of war. Their stories are horrifying. Their bravery, awe inspiring. Then Eve Ensler appeared. There she was, travelling from New York to Africa to help women; taking time to show her support for the incredible people on the front lines of so much trauma. It didn't take long before she had the women laughing, crying, hugging one another and sharing their stories in a safe environment, bringing hope to lives that might well have been lost forever. There were, in fact, many stories of attempted suicides blended in with stories of rapes and the aftermath. How touching to see survivors come together to share their experiences, and how wonderful to see their smiles after all they have suffered!
Eve Ensler is the real deal. She is an inspiring woman, and she isn't alone. Every person fighting back against brutality is a hero! Those brave pioneers who speak the truth, even when the truth is the last thing anyone wants to hear, and especially when they do so with love, set a wonderful example for all of us to follow.
I recommend this book to men and women alike. After all, we all live together here on this planet, and educating oneself on what it's really like for someone else, allows us to extend our understanding, and where understanding comes first, good things tend to follow, in my opinion.
For more information on the City of Joy and the work they do please click the link provided below.
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