Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMasculine monologues: 'Vagina' show adds male version
By Michelle Buchwalter
Posted: 1/16/08, 9:49 PM EST Section: News
Many students involved said the new play will be a great step forward in helping solve the problem of violence against women. Sarah Ross, the Office of Student Life consultant that advises SASSE, said she is a strong supporter of the male involvement.
"You can't help other people understand if you don't make them part of the solution. We
wanted to include more people, to make this more of a global issue instead of singling
out one set of people," Ross said. "Men need to learn. They need to be given the opportunity to learn."
"I understand the basis of 'The Vagina Monologues' being a women only production, but it doesn't only affect women, it affects males. I think men want to show that they can make the world a better place, and this is their opportunity to do that," she said.
Jason Samlin, a sophomore psychology and creative writing major, will be participating in "A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer's" all-male cast.
"I think that males talking about the same material will be a very powerful message," Samlin said. "It's almost like we're saying, 'these aren't just female issues, they're issues for everyone.'"
While some students are excited about the play, critics may be skeptical with men having their own show that mimics "The Vagina Monologues," which is supposed to be about the sexual independence of women.
Other people are indecisive about the play.
Elena Brubaker, a sophomore in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, said she hasn't heard much about the show and fears that men won't go to see the play.
"Are guys that need to learn this lesson going to go see the show?" Brubaker said.
Samlin, the male show participant, added that he feels only a select group of men will get involved with the play. "I think that this play only appeals to those men that have owned up to the responsibility that comes with being a responsible man."
"You can't help other people understand if you don't make them part of the solution. We
wanted to include more people, to make this more of a global issue instead of singling
out one set of people," Ross said. "Men need to learn. They need to be given the opportunity to learn."
"I understand the basis of 'The Vagina Monologues' being a women only production, but it doesn't only affect women, it affects males. I think men want to show that they can make the world a better place, and this is their opportunity to do that," she said.
Jason Samlin, a sophomore psychology and creative writing major, will be participating in "A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer's" all-male cast.
"I think that males talking about the same material will be a very powerful message," Samlin said. "It's almost like we're saying, 'these aren't just female issues, they're issues for everyone.'"
While some students are excited about the play, critics may be skeptical with men having their own show that mimics "The Vagina Monologues," which is supposed to be about the sexual independence of women.
Other people are indecisive about the play.
Elena Brubaker, a sophomore in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, said she hasn't heard much about the show and fears that men won't go to see the play.
"Are guys that need to learn this lesson going to go see the show?" Brubaker said.
Samlin, the male show participant, added that he feels only a select group of men will get involved with the play. "I think that this play only appeals to those men that have owned up to the responsibility that comes with being a responsible man."
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 10
typhonblue
posted 10/24/08 @ 8:33 PM EST
Disgusting.
How about men put on their own version that deals with female-on-male domestic violence, men's experiences of being sexually assaulted by women, the impact of widespread male genital mutilation in the west, the fact that men can't 'consent' to sex because their consent is presumed, how women dominate men socially through aggressive physical and verbal behaviors and other experiences of being male. (Continued…)
Penny Jackson
posted 3/16/09 @ 3:58 AM EST
I like articles like this. Great Article! Thanks!
Lenny
posted 3/16/09 @ 10:23 PM EST
I was tricked by "vagina monologues" into showing up, thinking there would be a talking vagina puppet show. I'm not falling for the same trick twice.
Alice Blaker
posted 3/19/09 @ 4:40 AM EST
I have to agree with teh poster above... :/ looks like a lot of hot air to me.
Russian Lady
posted 3/24/09 @ 5:12 AM EST
A think this new storie have some mistakes.
DeNicola
posted 3/24/09 @ 8:13 AM EST
I'm largely with Ms. Jackson (poster above). Who determined that the symmetrical complement of "vagina" is "masculine?" I think that "slip" actually says a great deal about the unfortunate (and asymmetrical) reduction of gender to physical attributes (overweight, repugnant men courting slender attractive women is a common television idiom, for example). (Continued…)
Stankowski Hightower
posted 4/15/09 @ 4:33 PM EST
Wait for next writes!
Rosetta Cheeseman
posted 6/20/09 @ 5:33 PM EST
This article is amazing. I'm going to spend so much time procrastinating on here. I'm not quite sure if I should be thanking you, or cursing you
Jane Ramer
posted 6/21/09 @ 3:52 AM EST
What an awesome article! You must have spent a lot of time and effort on it-needless to say, awesome job!
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