The Vagina Monologues returned to Fernie last weekend for the second time, once again raising awareness and funds to help stop gender-based violence and harassment.
Ninety per cent of their proceeds from the three shows were given to the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre, which will help local women in need. Since 1999, the Resource Centre has supported women throughout The Elk Valley. In 2017 alone, they supported 70 women and families through donations.
The proceeds of the show went specifically towards their emergency fund, which helps individuals afford basic necessities such as food, clothing and gas money.
Originally written by American playwright Eve Ensler in 1996, the Vagina Monologues quickly became popular around the globe, as they touched on some of the biggest issues women face in modern day society.
Ensler conducted interviews with hundreds of women about their experiences in womanhood. She then compiled the interviews into a series of monologues.
2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the Vagina Monologues, and to celebrate this, Ensler released the rights to the monologues so that groups around the world could perform them throughout the month of February, free of charge. The only catch was that 90 per cent of the proceeds had to be donated back to a local women’s group. The remaining 10 per cent went back towards V-Day, the organization created by Ensler to help support women around the world.
Close to 140 countries around the world have participated.
In the past year alone, many women around the world have stepped up to sound their voice against sexual abuse, which many others have echoed in return. One movement for example, is the #MeToo movement, as well as the #TimesUp movement, in which women are speaking out about sexual abuse, and demanding change.
A group of volunteers produced the show held at The Arts Station, recruiting women to reenact 16 of the 200 original monologues. A group of local women memorized a monologue each, and performed it in front of a full house at The Arts Station on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Each monologue was varying in subject matter; some were funny and light-hearted, while others touched on more serious subject matter.
One by one, women took centre stage.
The first story touched on the subject of maturity, and discovering ones self, as well as the harmful stereotypes and expectations surrounding the removal of body hair.
The next was a story of a 72-year-old woman who had never truly looked at herself before. It was a story about self-confidence, and discovery.
Several other stories spoke about the discovery of ones sexuality, as well as dress code, in relation to sexual and verbal abuse.
“My short skirt and everything under it, is mine,” it read.
Another touched on the subject of modern female products, and how they are unnecessary, annoying, overrated and sometimes dangerous.
The next monologue spoke about the realities of childbirth.
Several other monologues talked about the horrors of female circumcision in foreign countries, the repercussions of sexual abuse that is often forgotten, and what women consider a good experience with a partner. Also discussed was the misrepresentation of relationships in the film industry.
This performance of the Vagina Monologues was produced by Adalaine and Paige Mueller, sisters, and members of the newly founded Fernie Feminists.
When they opened the doors for auditions, they weren’t sure what the response from Fernie locals would be. They received much encouragement.
“We had this incredible cast of volunteers who came in with energy and ideas and enthusiasm,” said Paige. “It was more than we could have hoped for.”
“People need to know the good, and the bad, about being a female,” she continued. “There’s a balance in the show between the funny, the sad, and the really hard things that go on in females lives today…”
The Mueller’s hoped that those who attended the show left feeling empowered and enlightened.
