 |
Bev Byrd demonstrates how a woman would strain
in an attempt to view her “down there” area during
an enactment of “The Vagina Monologues.” The
performance took place in MCC’s library on March 2. |
Photo by Rebecca Straughmatt |
Expressing sexuality empowers all women empowered
by expresexuality play empowers women of all ages
Heather Cutler
Mesa Legend
“Indescribable” was how student Amelia Garcia described
“The Vagina Monologues,” a screenplay and book presented
through excerpts at MCC on March 2.
The readings by Linda Larson, Lyn Dutson, Bev Byrd and Erin Rawson
helped kick off Women’s History Month events.
The play’s first time on campus was expected to only draw
a few women, yet surprisingly, approximately 20-30 men also showed
for the presentation, along with about 150-200 women.
The basis of the production was built to empower women about the
“down there” area.
Throughout history, women have always kept quiet about their own
sexuality.
However, presenter Erin Rawson made it clear that women have evolved
from that state of mind in saying, “Women’s bodies are
sacred and they should feel free to express their sexuality.”
About 10 different monologues were presented, each telling different
“down there” stories.
All names referring to the “down there” area were exposed
at the beginning of the presentation which included many colorful
terms that teenagers and young adults have named it today.
The stories varied from dating at a young age and its effects, to
the bright and ugly side of women’s bodies, and experiences
which included rape, “women exams,” giving birth to
a child, and the ever-illusive thong underwear.
The stories that received the most attention and emotion from the
audience not only included the humorous, but included the stories
referring to victims of rape.
One monologue portrayed a young Muslim woman’s experience
of being raped repeatedly by many men while she was held captive
during war.
Presenter Lyn Dutson said, after the presentation, “More than
500,000 women are raped every year, and yet we are not at war with
that issue? Instead, we are focusing our energy on a war that is
being held elsewhere and for different reasons. We should be proud
of ourselves as women and be open and willing to talk about everything.”
In an effort to make women more aware of Women’s History Month
activities on campus, fliers were distributed to the audience with
events listed.
A petition was available for all to sign which supported the notion
of a Women’s Study Resource Center on campus. The petition
received a high turnout with the majority of the audience signing
it in support of its efforts.
The presentation was sponsored by Mesa Community College’s
Women Studies, Career ReEntry, and Theatre Department, as well as
the Women’s History Month Committee and Prism.
“We should celebrate ourselves as beautiful women,”
said Bev Byrd, and that is what the dialogue presented to the audience.
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