V-Day will continue ‘Until the Violence Stops’

“I want people to know, we do the ‘Vagina Monologues’ for two reasons: first, to celebrate who we are as women and also, to make sure that there is no other violence against women,” said Jennifer Graham-Stephens.

“Until the Violence Stops” is a documentary showing how “The Vagina Monologues” grew into a movement that stops violence against women and girls.

Among many gravely important issues the documentary explores, the topic of sexual slavery in Japan during WWII makes quite an impact.

Graham Stephens revels about the women used as prostitutes at the Japanese Army’s disposal.

“They called them ‘Comfort Women.’ They were told they would have a better life, or sometimes they were just threatened,” she said.

These women, some still alive, are without even an apology from the Japanese Government for the two years of terror they were forced to experience. They are haunted everyday by their past and are often ignored by their families out of shame. The ‘Vagina Monologues’ with its undying efforts to end violence against women and girls enable these weary “Comfort Women” to speak out and tell their stories. Instead of being forced to stay quite about the atrocities done to them, they are now able to “release the prison of silence” as one Japanese woman puts it.

V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls, is Feb. 14, a day many would call Valentine’s Day. Birthed by Eve Ensler, author and founder of “The Vagina Monologues,” V-Day or Vagina Day is a day groups throughout the entire world, in over 120 countries from Europe to Asia, perform “The Vagina Monologues” to raise money and spread awareness. Last year’s V-Day, being the tenth anniversary of “The Vagina Monologues,” was celebrated by a weekend-long conference/celebration in the New Orleans Superdome. Faces such as Eve Ensler, Rosario Dawson, Selma Heyek, Faith Hill, Jane Fonda, and Jennifer Hudson could be seen on stage performing acts such as “Welcome to the Wetlands,” “My Vagina was my Village,” and “I was there in the room.” These monologues touch on many difficult subjects such as rape, violence and mental/emotional abuse, but they are also celebratory of the vagina and of womanhood in general.

GCSU is holding its own performance of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” on Feb. 12-14 at 7 p.m.

“This is about healing. Being a part of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ helps those women who have been raped and abused finally heal,” performer Meghan Fleming said. “For those who haven’t experienced abuse, it is educational. There is a monologue that fits each person.”

For more information about “The Vagina Monologues” call The Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity: 478-445-4233 or email Jennifer Graham-Stephens at Jennifer.Graham-Stephens@gcsu.edu. Tickets, available at the Women’s Center, are only $7; A slim price for a show that you will never forget.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 13 2009. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry