Doing Feminism

I’m a bit behind the ball on this one, but a local Edmonton high school, Harry Ainlay, took action against a production of the Vagina Monologues that student Bonnie Ings was directing. I spoke with Bonnie and she gave me some insight into what happened.

Apparently, the assistant principals of the school decided not to let the play go on, as the principal, “Mrs. Smith,” was away. Despite the concerns of the staff, it was Smith who eventually decided to let the play go on that evening, on the condition that only those who were 18 or older could see it unless permission was granted by a parent.

Bonnie writes,

It is my belief that the cancellation of the play was directly related to the title and a lack of understanding of the play’s message of female empowerment. The issues in the Vagina Monolgues of rape, physical abuse, genital mutiliation and orgasmic pleasure scared the administration. There were other plays in Harry Ainlay’s One Act festival that dealt with mature subjects such as incest, rape, and murder which in my belief are at least on par with the issues in the Vagina Monologues.

The backlash against the Vagina Monologues is nothing new, of course, and I could come up with possible reasons for some time. A misunderstanding could certainly be the culprit, although that might be giving those responsible for the cancellation too much credit. Anyone who wants to understand the play can take a brief moment to look into it and find out. What I find is likely is that those opposed to the play (and there are many) may be directly opposed to the messages within the play. What? Women have their own sexuality as well? We should address issues like violence against women and rape rather than remaining silent? Unfathomable, I know.

Anyway, I want to say props to Bonnie for putting on the play in the first place. I don’t think it’s inappropriate for a high school audience at all, but I don’t know anyone I went to high school with who considered directing it, or who even really knew what it was.