The speaker began the "Vagina Monologues" out of worry about vaginas, what we think about them, and the lack of conversation surrounding them.
She felt her own vagina needed a context, culture, and community.
The speaker notes the darkness and secrecy surrounding vaginas, comparing them to the Bermuda Triangle.
Difficulty in Self-Observation
Many women don't take the time to look at their own vaginas.
A businesswoman interviewed said it would take a full day's work due to the awkward positioning and lighting required.
Vagina Monologues
These began as casual vagina interviews, eventually evolving into monologues.
The speaker interviewed over 200 women of diverse backgrounds: older, younger, married, lesbian, single, professionals, college professors, actors, sex workers, and various ethnicities and religions.
Initially, women were shy, but once they started talking, they were eager to share.
The speaker suggests women love to talk about their vaginas because no one has ever asked them before.
The Word "Vagina"
The speaker critiques the word "vagina" itself, finding it unappealing and clinical.
She jokes that it sounds like an infection or a medical instrument.
She suggests using it during sex, even with the intention to be politically correct, can be a mood killer.
Alternative Names
In Great Neck, New York, it's called a Pussycat, with a story about airing it out.
Other names include Pooki, twat, Powderbox, derriere, a Pooky, a Poochi, a Poopi, a Poopelu, a Pooninana, a Padepachetchki, a Pal, and a Piche.
Further examples: Toadie, Dee Dee, Nishi, Dignity, Coochi Snorcher, Cooter, Labbe, Gladys Seagelman, VA, Wee wee, Horsespot, Nappy Dugout, Mongo, Ghoulie, Powderbox, a Mimi in Miami, a Split Knish in Philadelphia, and a Schmende in the Bronx.
Genesis of the Project
The "Vagina Monologues" began with a conversation about menopause and a woman's feelings about her vagina being dried-up and finished.
This led to casual inquiries with other women and ultimately a flood of stories.
Unexpected Journey
The speaker jokes about not anticipating being known as the "Vagina Lady."
Happiness and the Vagina Journey
The speaker reflects on her understanding of happiness before and after the "Vagina Monologues."
She initially equated happiness with ignorance or selfishness.
The journey has changed her perspective on happiness, revealing three key qualities:
Seeing what's right in front of you and talking about it. The vagina was obvious but unacknowledged.
Serving the world and making it better.
Trusting and moving with the "V-wave" energy without questioning or resisting it.
Unexpected Stories
After early performances, women lined up to share their stories, which were often about rape, battering, incest, and violence rather than positive experiences.
The speaker felt overwhelmed and like a war photographer who couldn't intervene.
V-Day
In 1997, the speaker decided to use the monologues to address violence against women.
A UN statistic revealed that one in three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime.
An event was organized in New York City with actors like Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close, and Whoopi Goldberg to raise awareness and stop violence against women.
This catalyzed a movement, with women taking the play to college campuses and communities to raise money for local anti-violence efforts.
Global Impact and Violence Against Women
The epidemic of violence towards women is global, profound, devastating, and normalized.
The speaker traveled to Afghanistan under the Taliban, witnessing the stripping of women's rights, including the right to eat ice cream, and the punishment for doing so.
She visited a secret ice cream-eating place where women risked their safety for pleasure.
The speaker also traveled to Islamabad, where she met women with melted faces, and to Juarez, Mexico, where she saw the bones of murdered women.
She notes that facing these realities is an antidote to depression and feelings of worthlessness.