Robin G. answers the question “Why The VM’s?”

Since 2001 when we first produced the VM’s, thousands of people have been enlightened, entertained and educated by this remarkable student run play/project, and tens of thousands of dollars have been raised to benefit agencies working on issues of violence against women.  While a few people say it is not their “cup of tea,” a far greater number say how glad they are to have attended the show or been involved in the production.  One student who was involved in the 2002 production is certain that her being involved enabled her to save the life of her best friend’s mother. 

            Below is a history of this play and a letter from playwright Eve Ensler.  They help explain why campus and community groups worldwide are supporting the V-Day campaign by offering benefit performances of the “VM’s.” Get involved!! Buy the book of the VM’s or check out www.vday.org.  On this site you will learn about anti-violence initiatives and activities on every continent of the globe, in part funded by monies raised through performances like ours here at WCU..

    Come to the show!!! Don’t be among those who say, Oh no!?! Did I miss this year’s production? I really wanted to go!!

 

History: V-Day was born in 1998 as an outgrowth of Eve Ensler's Obie-Award winning play, "The Vagina Monologues." As Eve performed the piece in small towns and large cities all around the world, she saw and heard first hand the destructive personal, social, political and economic consequences violence against women has for many nations.

Hundreds of women told her their stories of rape, incest, domestic battery and genital mutilation. It was clear that something widespread and dramatic needed to be done to stop the violence. A group of women in New York joined Eve and founded V-Day . . . a catalyst, a movement, a performance.

V-Day’s mission is simple. It demands that the violence must end. It proclaims Valentine’s Day as V-Day until the violence stops. When all women live in safety, no longer fearing violence or the threat of violence, then V-Day will be known as Victory Over Violence Day.

 

Letter from Eve Ensler 

“Vagina.”  There, I said it.  “Vagina.”  I said it again.  Ever since I started writing and creating “The Vagina Monologues” years ago, I’ve said it every day, many times a day.  And now, as the coordinator for the V‑Day College Campaign, so will you.  You will probably say “vagina” more times in the next year than you have said it in your whole life.  And that’s fantastic.  And important.  The word should be said, must be said over and over until the shame and pain and disdain are gone and love, compassion, respect, and appreciation are all that are left.

That’s V‑Day’s mission: to celebrate women and girls and their vaginas and to stop the sexual violence being perpetrated against them all over the world.  V‑Day has been working on this mission for four years now.  When I think about how much V‑Day has been able to accomplish already, in large part because of the effort and dedication of people like you, I am simply amazed.  Our work is now truly global – we have drawn attention to and confronted the violence in places as diverse as Afghanistan, Kenya, Canada, Bulgaria, England, Antarctica and Italy, to name just a few.  We have made a difference, although we still have so far to go “until the violence stops.”  But the strides we have made leave me utterly convinced that the battle can be won, must be won, and will be won.

As the V‑Day Mission Statement declares, we will not stop until the violence does.  And I hope you won’t either.  If the consciousness of one person then one family then one town then one city then one province then one country can be shifted to one that does not promote, accept, condone or ignore any form of violence against women and girls, then it will disappear.  We are working toward that goal.  V‑Day.  You.  All of us.  Together.

One thing I know: If you approach your work on the College Campaign with love, respect, conviction and confidence, great things will happen.  Change will happen.

 

For the freedom and safety of all women and girls,

 Eve Ensler, 2002