V-day: Victory, Valentine, Vagina

When I was an undergrad, I wandered into an audition one day. I thought, "surely they can find a place for me in this show."

They did. And I changed. I went onstage and said things that I didn't know I could say in front of people. I braved protesters. I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. I felt like I was making a difference.

That show was The Vagina Monologues written by Eve Ensler.

Source: goodreads.com via Lauren on Pinterest

If you've never seen this show, well, you need to see it. It is a show that narrates the feelings women have toward their vaginas through a collection of monologues performed . You didn't know that women had feelings about that, did you? They do, and they are as varied as women themselves and stem from experiences women have had.

Some women love their vaginas because they are powerful and have delivered babies. Some love their vaginas because they give pleasure. Some feel empowered by discovering their vaginas and learning about the magnificent way women have been created.

But, many women don't like their vaginas. Some have been raped. Some have been told that their vaginas are dirty, nasty, unclean, not beautiful or normal enough.

That, friends, is what the heart of V-day is about. Ending violence towards women. Ending the expectation that you must look and act a certain way to be normal and beautiful. Ending the ignorance of those who would force women to be meek, be raped, be controlled. THAT is what V-day is about.

{Source}

I was honored to be part of the production at Texas A&M for two years. In those two years we showcased monologues from New Orleans and the Congo, and raised money for The Sexual Assault Resource Center of the Brazos Valley by selling tickets and vagina lollipops {oh yes, we did}. And we made a difference.

Today, this Hallmark holiday, think about what this day means. That we force significant to shower us with affection, to make us feel loved and special, and if we don't have a significant other we feel worthless and sad. That we spend money of flowers and candy and fancy, expensive dinners.

We don't need these things. Our self worth is not contingent upon the love of others, of how beautiful or perfect they think we are. We are strong. We are powerful.

We can end rape, and sexual slavery, and misogyny. We can empower women to be whatever they want and provide accurate information. We can call on police and judges and world leaders to We can do that. YOU can do that.

On this day. On V-Day.

{Now you know why I like these brackets! Source: V-day}