Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMasculine monologues: 'Vagina' show adds male version
By Michelle Buchwalter
Posted: 1/16/08, 9:49 PM EST Section: News
They wear simple black shirts with bright, pink letters that stand out in the midst of white snow falling on the quad. The phrase "We've reclaimed it…" is in bold, capital letters sending a loud message to the people who read it.
Of course, the message only resonates if onlookers actually know what the phrase means. Currently, the women wearing the shirts hope to raise awareness of their bright, pink message, but don't be surprised to see more men wearing donning the shirts this year.
This year, Syracuse University students will add a new production that will coincide with the annual performance of "The Vagina Monologues," which sponsors the shirts. The new play, titled, "A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer," will include an all-male cast and was edited by Eve Ensler, the author of the female counterpart - a play that celebrates female sexuality, sexual self-discovery and the independence of women.
The production was organized by The Students Advocating Sexual Safety and Empowerment and A Men's Issue, two student organizations that focus on sexual issues and gender equality.
The show will include male monologues about topics beyond their sexual experiences, venturing into how witnessing violence toward women has affected them, said Brianna Collins, the co-director and co-producer of both the men's and women's productions.
Nationally, there are productions of "The Vagina Monologues" at 700 college campuses. Currently, the play includes only women.
"Due to the popularity and the importance of 'The Vagina Monologues,' we at SASSE
thought it would be both an interesting role reversal and a new influential venue for different voices to be heard if we made 'A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer' an all-male cast," Collins said. "We want to give men a voice."
Of course, the message only resonates if onlookers actually know what the phrase means. Currently, the women wearing the shirts hope to raise awareness of their bright, pink message, but don't be surprised to see more men wearing donning the shirts this year.
This year, Syracuse University students will add a new production that will coincide with the annual performance of "The Vagina Monologues," which sponsors the shirts. The new play, titled, "A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer," will include an all-male cast and was edited by Eve Ensler, the author of the female counterpart - a play that celebrates female sexuality, sexual self-discovery and the independence of women.
The production was organized by The Students Advocating Sexual Safety and Empowerment and A Men's Issue, two student organizations that focus on sexual issues and gender equality.
The show will include male monologues about topics beyond their sexual experiences, venturing into how witnessing violence toward women has affected them, said Brianna Collins, the co-director and co-producer of both the men's and women's productions.
Nationally, there are productions of "The Vagina Monologues" at 700 college campuses. Currently, the play includes only women.
"Due to the popularity and the importance of 'The Vagina Monologues,' we at SASSE
thought it would be both an interesting role reversal and a new influential venue for different voices to be heard if we made 'A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer' an all-male cast," Collins said. "We want to give men a voice."
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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