Dear Brian Eller, I am one of the cast members of “The Vagina Monologues.” This morning when I woke up, imagine my shock when I went to read the Spotlight article written about my show in the Mustang Daily and turned the page to find your column.
Now, I see your points. You feel that the show is overdone and objectifies women themselves by talking about periods, tampons, masterbation, rape and all of those taboo subjects. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and yours does have merit from a guy’s point of view.
But to say that these monologues are vulgar is insulting half of the population of this planet. It’s not my fault or your fault that statistics show women are raped more than men. The show is not vulgar; if you have seen the play (which it sounds like you haven’t, which then gives you no right to critique it), you would know that a majority of the monologues are supposed to be funny and light-hearted, and about women making fun of themselves.
It tells women that it’s OK to love their bodies, that looks are not everything and that knowing who you are and being OK with yourself is the most important thing.
It’s supposed to be an emotional booster for all women, not a fundraiser or angry rant from extreme feminists. It hurts when I have to read a peer of mine say that V-day and “The Vagina Monologues” are just a fundraiser for different programs, especially when I have always had faith that the people here at Cal Poly always keep an open mind about things happening at their school.
Myself and the rest of the cast have spent COUNTLESS hours preparing for this show, and if you didn’t hear already, it’s sold out. If you feel so strongly that what we are doing is wrong, maybe you should look around and realize that you are in the minority, my friend.
Rachel Budge
Journalism junior