Start brushing up on your vagina synonyms because the time to say it loud and proud is almost here.
Shyness is not an option as the cast members of UB's production of The Vagina Monologues prepare to verbally bare all. The message behind the moans, groans and clitoris will be very clear when The Vagina Monologues makes its annual UB debut on Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Woldman Theater (112 Norton).
"Vaginas are a very taboo subject in our society, so this gives everyone a chance to talk about something they wouldn't normally be able to talk about," said Stacy Fredrick, a sophomore biomedical science major and cast member.
The performances, which first debuted in 1996 and have since traveled the country and internationally, range from tales of sexual experience and comedic breaks to more moving pieces, according to Lauren Pollow, a junior psychology major and cast member.
Along with the general sentiment of the show, the language of The Vagina Monologues, as compiled by author Eve Ensler, is the most notable and famous portion of the show.
The show gives women the chance to stop being polite, domestic and coy, to become empowered by being honest and open about vaginas.
"My piece isn't as graphic as some. I still have to use the word 'clitoris' quite a bit, which isn't something most do day to day," Pollow said.
The Vagina Monologues were originally not intended to shock and dismay, they were meant to raise awareness and get people truly talking about topics that typically cause blushing or tight-lipped responses.
"I believe that women who play by the rules never change anything. [The word] 'vagina' makes people so nervous, and I think saying it, and talking about it is all part of the process of allowing women to demystify their own vagina," Pollow said.
The exposure begins with the truth behind why V-Day and The Vagina Monologues began: female violence, which is still a problem.
"I am no bra-burning feminist, but when I learn about the femicide, the raping of pre-pubescent girls, the genital mutilation, I know that is wrong, and I know that people need to know that this is happening," said Anne Marie Wells, a senior nutrition major.
For Pollow, violence against women is not just a female problem. It is a human rights violation that affects men, women and children. Wells stressed that issue.
"I think men hear 'Vagina Monologues' and they think 'not for me,' " Wells said. "Equality, safety and respect are for everyone and we need men to tell other men that it is not OK to rape, it is not OK to verbally abuse, it is not OK to hit, and it is not OK to degrade."
The Monologues help eliminate the notion of a weaker sex, which implies that some human beings are less capable and therefore less important.
"We're creating a venue where women feel safe to talk about their experiences," Wells said. "I think women bottle in too much, and this gives them the doorway to start talking."
The entire cast of The Vagina Monologues is gearing up to fill some pretty big shoes of actors past, but according to Pollow, having real women tell real stories on stage makes the performance honest and accessible.
"The Vagina Monologues is a creative way to shed light on the plight of sexual violence, but also remind the world that despite the violence, we are lucky to be women," Pollow said.
The curtain goes up on April 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. in 112 Norton Hall, the Woldman Theatre. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for the general public.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
