namakurhea's review against another edition
3.0
An oldie but a goodie. “The Vagina Monologues” is a play written and originally performed by Eve Ensler. At the center of it is vagina: the names we call or not call it with, the care for it, the abuse of it, the politicizing of it, the empowerment of it.
That being said, as this was written 25 years ago, “The Vagina Monologues” put a lot of focus on sexuality and cisgender women. How about those people who are asexual? And how about women who do not have vagina but identify as women? Society has been a little bit more woke now compared to how it was years ago so TVM might benefit from a little update.
Still, things have not changed much since 1996 when this play premiered. The male-gaze is still the dominant lense through which products are marketed, or experiences are viewed. Pleasure department is still largely male-centric. The female body is still often explored not for itself but in relation to the male body). “The Vagina Monologues” is a trailblazer in the sense that it puts our sexuality on stage; front and center. It gives the body a platform, a spotlight, and a microphone to use. And damn right I’m going to use this microphone. I own this microphone, this body, this stage.
That being said, as this was written 25 years ago, “The Vagina Monologues” put a lot of focus on sexuality and cisgender women. How about those people who are asexual? And how about women who do not have vagina but identify as women? Society has been a little bit more woke now compared to how it was years ago so TVM might benefit from a little update.
Still, things have not changed much since 1996 when this play premiered. The male-gaze is still the dominant lense through which products are marketed, or experiences are viewed. Pleasure department is still largely male-centric. The female body is still often explored not for itself but in relation to the male body). “The Vagina Monologues” is a trailblazer in the sense that it puts our sexuality on stage; front and center. It gives the body a platform, a spotlight, and a microphone to use. And damn right I’m going to use this microphone. I own this microphone, this body, this stage.
jackiesam's review against another edition
5.0
I read this play years ago and truth be told, some of the monologues fell flat on the second read. That being said I'm sure that seeing them performed would hold more meaning to me. The 10th anniversary edition includes spotlight monologues and essays that I hadn't read before which were truly beautiful, I would love to see a performance some day!
shortstack48's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 I think it’s important for people to speak about their vaginas, something that is not regularly talked about. I want to watch it performed because I feel like it would be a more immersive experience. The last part about V days impact was the best part to me, I really appreciate how they give back to sexual assault organizations and planned parenthood and that it’s mostly made up of volunteers. The writer doesn’t get a cut at all, I really admire the intention to reveal the truth and help others. Schools creating events surrounding it reminded me of ‘Girls Night In’. The only thing I wish is that it was longer, had more perspectives, and was added onto over time. There’s no trans women or men up in here which I would have liked to see represented in this feminism. The parts about the amazing otherworldliness of the vagina is not how I view mine, but I recognize that loving and revering it is an act of defiance, compensating for the silence. It’s poetic making these sublime comparisons. The story about a woman being conquered like Land by rapists lends the connection of the brutalities of colonization to this act.
readivine's review against another edition
5.0
“The heart is capable of sacrifice.This is definitely one of my favorite books this year! I know that most people would be uncomfortable reading this (of course when they don't have a vagina to begin with) and some even posted long drawn out analysis that explains how pseudo-feminist The Vagina Monologues are. They say women should be viewed as normal people and that there's no need to "deify" the vagina or even talk about it. It's not special right???
So is the vagina.
The heart is able to forgive and repair. It can change it's shape to let us in. It can expand to let us out.
So can the vagina.
It can ache for us and stretch for us, die for us and bleed and bleed us into this difficult, wondrous world.
So can the vagina.”
I honestly was taken aback by this take because they seem to not get the memo that this was supposedly written to empower women and to reclaim the derogatory meaning attached to the vagina. Like, did we read the same thing or you just didn't get the vulnerable stories of violence against women here and how our patriarchal society compartmentalized women's bodies into neat little shapes??? The Vagina Monologues is hilariously written, it's sometimes obscene, but most importantly it's unflinchingly honest.
I am my vagina. I am privileged enough to have never experienced violence just because I'm a woman (thanks mom and dad!). But coming to terms with your sex and knowing the intricacies of your body doesn't necessarily mean that we are objectifying our own bodies! Can you even hear how absurd that sounds? As if countless objectification by the opposite sex isn't enough. LOL I really hate how dismissive some of the reviews of this book are especially when the book is not just about romanticizing the vagina.
Yes we're hyper fixating in the vagina but by doing so, women are given the space to realize the autonomy of their bodies outside the male gaze! I love this book mostly because it's refreshing to read about my body and it further opens my eyes on the experiences of other women brought by the act of diminishing their vagina. If you're a woman and you probably have doubts on picking this one up then I think you should try reading three star reviews (they're the most unbiased) instead of believing the low ratings.
I'm making this a 5 star read because I love how this book also emphasized women solidarity above all else. I'll probably watch the play soon!!!
karimorton33's review against another edition
5.0
A collection of powerful and heartbreaking stories, funny and sad stories, stories of torture and rape, acceptance and freedom. I really enjoyed reading so many stories from women all over the world, and love what the V-Day organization is doing to stop violence against women and girls. Art can create change and a community, which this book and the play really shows. (Read for Feminist Book Club)
vampireluvr69's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.5
loved this but I wanted more. needed more monologues. loved all the facts in between and all the info on their charitable V-Day. would love to see this performed.
claremsheedy's review against another edition
3.0
the stories alone, beautiful. the narration, unnecessary and oftentimes annoying.
sfletcher26's review against another edition
4.0
As a man this is not an easy book to buy or to read. And if I'm honest its not an easy book to review.
It would be easy to give this a glowing 5 star review in an attempt to show how in touch I am with my feminine side or in an attempt to invoke some feminist cred (if it's possible for a man to ever do this that is) but that would be to do some kind of injustice to the work.
Ensler's monologues are a glaring, in your face and sometimes forceful look at women's identity and sexuality in the world today. And herein lies my one criticism of the monologues. In its attempt to raise the consciousness of the audience it sometimes feels like it's being too in your face.
Despite this small criticism it is still an important and thought provoking read.
It would be easy to give this a glowing 5 star review in an attempt to show how in touch I am with my feminine side or in an attempt to invoke some feminist cred (if it's possible for a man to ever do this that is) but that would be to do some kind of injustice to the work.
Ensler's monologues are a glaring, in your face and sometimes forceful look at women's identity and sexuality in the world today. And herein lies my one criticism of the monologues. In its attempt to raise the consciousness of the audience it sometimes feels like it's being too in your face.
Despite this small criticism it is still an important and thought provoking read.