For my first book, I decided to pick up The Vagina Monologues. It has been sitting here in my room for a long time now and I’ve been meaning to read it but never got the chance to. I finished it on the way to work this morning.
I knew that this was going to drip with feminist ideas and I was right on the money. I am in no way uncomfortable about saying the word vagina out loud or talking about my sexuality in public. I’ve been known in my circle of friends to make people feel uncomfortable when I blatantly talk about it. Mr. Wonderful is actually one of those people who were taken aback at first by my bluntness.
So reading this didn’t really cause that much of a stir with me… at first. Actually, in the beginning I had trouble taking it seriously. Shoot me now but the way it sounded to me, the vagina was glorified to reverence status. The tone made me feel as if I’m being forced to agree to the presented idea and instinctively, I rejected it. But that could be just my ignorance rejecting new ideas or it can just be a manifestation of my own indifference towards my “power as a woman.”
Admittedly, there were some parts in there that made me tear up a bit, made me wince in discomfort and some parts that warmed my heart. That last bit, “I Was There in the Room” that did it for me though. After reading it, I found myself quietly staring into space, just repeating the passages in my head. The composition was so powerful, it transcended the awkwardness of comparing the vagina to the heart.
Did I feel empowered after reading The Vagina Monologues? Well. I’m not sure. I think this is better experienced than read. Better watched than read. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it though. I just think that it works better if someone performs it.
I can imagine how moving “Reclaiming Cunt” could be when experienced on stage.
touch it?
Posted on August 11, 2010 by Nic
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