In the mid-90s, when Ensler first started performing the piece -- which contains monologues like "If Your Vagina Got Dressed, What Would It Wear?" and "My Angry Vagina" -- it immediately struck a chord. Women in both small towns and large cities connected with the play's message of empowerment and sisterhood. It also helped remove some of the taboos associated with the word, allowing women to speak freely about what is usually the most private of all their, well, private parts.
The play has also managed to change what was once considered a controversial and outrageous issue into a mainstream phenomenon, championed by celebrities, discussed on talk shows, and written about in newspapers. Indeed, never before has the "V-word" been so, um, in your face. It isn't every day one can take in a play and see a revolving cast of women talk frankly and openly about everything from rape, childbirth and sex to feminine products and the many names there are for female genitalia.
More important than helping do away with stigmas or talking openly about sexuality, the play also revealed the personal, social, political and economic consequences of violence against women. As Ensler would finish her performances, audience members would often linger behind to tell her about their own struggles with violence and abuse. This inspired Ensler, a longtime feminist and activist, to start V-Day in 1998, now an annual and worldwide movement that celebrates women and calls for the end of abuse. The "V" stands for victory, valentine and vagina -- the organization proclaims Valentine's Day as V-Day until the violence stops.
In five years, the play and the movement have experienced amazing success, topped off last year at a V-Day event in Madison Square Garden attended by 18,000 people. So how do you top that?
"We went grassroots and global," said Jerri Lynn Fields, development and communication director for V-Day. Specifically, the organization contacted colleges and cities it had worked with in the past, and set up a calendar of events anchored around Valentine's Day. Eve gave up the rights to her play from February to April so different venues could put on benefit performances, and funnel the money back into the community.
Karen Obel is director of the V-Day College Campaign, and says that since the campaign was launched in 1998, it has grown from 65 participating schools in the US and Canada to 550 worldwide.
"The growth has been exponential, impressive, and it says there is a need and desire for such a movement," Obel said. "There is a worldwide problem of violence against women and girls. What makes V-Day work is that it presents a solution to this problem in an unusual way -- it's activism through theater and arts."
It was this global, grassroots movement that allowed Angelina Corbet to first see The Vagina Monologues in February 2001 at Davidson College as part of V-Day's 2001 College Campaign. Corbet, who is founder of the Mobius Company, which does personal coaching and facilitation work, was so inspired by the experience she organized a local steering committee and started V-Day Charlotte, a local chapter of the national organization. It's designed to help raise money and awareness about violence against women in the Queen City.
"One out of every three murder victims in this city is a victim of domestic violence," Corbet said. "On average, a woman is raped every other day. So it occurred to me in looking at the play that wouldn't it be wonderful if a city named after a woman distinguished itself by not tolerating violence against women."
In addition to educating the public and creating an anti-violence coalition, V-Day Charlotte is also sponsoring this week's production of The Vagina Monologues at Spirit Square (one of over 800 performances scheduled throughout the world during V-Day 2002). The production will draw from members of the Charlotte community, including business people, actresses and local celebrities.
"As you do any kind of project like this you have to stop every once in a while and take stock," Corbet said. "For all the ups and downs this committee has had, we really feel blessed and grateful to be able to serve the women and girls of Charlotte."
