TODAY host Meredith Vieira talks with Eve Ensler, author of "The Vagina Monologues," three Westchester County High School students, who were suspended for using the word vagina during a school performance of her play, and Peter Breslin, school board president.
View the video clip here
In case you do not have a connection that supports video these are the highlights of Eve’s comments.
"I am not shocked that the school resisted saying the word because unfortunately we are still living in a world where people are terrified of the word Vagina!" “Vagina. It’s a body part... Vagina, elbow, hand, Vagina."
"The fact that we still live in a world where saying this word creates such controversy is disturbing to me. Because often it is adult's contaminated projection onto the word rather than girl’s healthy understanding of their bodies."
"If authority gives you a directive that is unwise and inappropriate, to me it is a sign of leadership to refuse the directive."
Eve's response to young people being in the audience and being sensitive to making some people uncomfortable.
"Sensitive to what?" "Hearing Vagina... that they would know that they have one?" "What are we concerned about?" "Heaven forbid.”
"Let's look at why don't we want girls to have language for their bodies!" "Why don't we want girls to have agency over their bodies... to know their bodies, to love their bodies?" Half of the reason why girls end up getting violated, getting disassociated, getting distracted, is because they are not educated about their bodies!" "Why don't we want girls and boys to be educated about their genitals?"
On the fact that the f-word was said at the school open mike night with NO consequence?
"I predict to you that worlds like rape, and war, and plutonium were used. Why are those words less disturbing words than Vagina? Vagina is the place where life comes from; where we all pass through..."
Many thanks to Christie Achor of Badmimi, another dedicated vagina revolutionary, for passing me this information.
2 comments:
Oh my lord...yet another reason for homeschooling.
My three daughters can say vagina whenever they want to.
http://journals.aol.com/hestiahomeschool/HomeschoolingJournal/
please tell our ladies to open the doors for future generations.Vagina is a much better word than they learn from Rap music.More ease of communication between mom/daughter/sis and nurse
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