Vaginas in Chico, Funny or Not???

Thursday, February 14, 2008 was the 10^th anniversary of V-Day.  Chico State students offered a special viewing of the V-Day film documentary.  I was lucky to attend this emotional event.

 

First, I must tell you that I was quite surprised by the film’s content.  I came into the room expecting to see a movie involving angry and bitter women making raucous jokes about their vaginas.  I was ready to laugh it up and have a good time.  That’s what the Vagina Monologues meant to me.  I could not have been more wrong.

The Vagina Monologues is a small part of V-Day which is a global movement to end violence against women and girls.  Eve Ensler, the founder performed her first show in February 1998.  Her show includes talk of her being raped and molested by her father.  After the performance, she was inundated by women in the audience who thanked her for telling her story for they too had been abused by men.  This was just the beginning.

Last night’s film was truly a multicultural event.  V-Day increases awareness of violence against women all over the world.  In the documentary, we were taken from the United States to the Philippines and then on to Kenya. 

In places such as New York, South Dakota and Ukiah, California, women were standing together, telling their stories (some for the first time) seeking to heal and all determined to end violence against women.  Many of these women are finding support from both men and women within their communities. 

In the Philippines during World War II, soldiers were provided comfort by Philippine girls who were enslaved by the Japanese government.  These girls are now elderly women who have told their story and seek now justice for what was done to them.  V-Day is bringing attention to their plight.

Agnes Pareyio, truly a visionary in Kenya has opened a safe house for girls who do not wish to be circumcised.  Female circumcision is a custom in Kenya that butchers the female anatomy in order to keep women from wanting/enjoying sex.  Fathers and sons, alike find this necessary to control their daughters and sisters. V-Day in her country has brought attention and much needed funds to her cause. 

So, not only did I laugh during the film, I cried.  I wept for the women of our planet, a resource necessary to the human race. 

Violence against women is a global problem.  The Vagina Monologues, an entertaining venue is helping bring much needed attention and support to V-Day.  V-day.org is available on the World Wide Web for those who want more information. 

A live performance will be offered by Chico State students here on campus.