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Inspired to march by a role in the Vagina Monologues

Actor notes the importance of ongoing dialogue between women
LAUREL
You can check out Bowen Islander Laurel Bailey in an upcoming performance of the Vagina Monologues at UBC.

Bowen Islander Laurel Bailey takes issue with the word “vagina” as it is referenced in the theatrical performance The Vagina Monologues, but she acknowledges that the word serves an important purpose in this context. “The word vagina isn’t always used correctly in the play: technically you can’t shave a vagina (because the vagina is inside the body) but there’s a monologue about pidoing just that” she says, “But the fact is, there are still a lot of people who get really uncomfortable when they hear the word and I think it’s in the title to get people’s attention. And the show is based on interviews with women about their bodies and about sex.  Some of the monologues are very funny and some are sad and some of them are angry.”

Bailey is acting in a UBC production of the play, written in 1995 by Eve Ensler. She says that the cast is made up of 22 women starting at age 17. “I’m the oldest, which is interesting,” says Bailey. “As part of our process, we’ve had a number of workshops and a lot of discussions on all kinds of issues ranging from consent, to the morning after pill, to intersectional feminism, to the use of the term ‘slut.’  We’ve talked about different words that make some people uncomfortable and why, about appropriate usage of certain words, about sex, gender, and about race. It has been really inspiring, to learn and grow with these young women, as I would not normally have the opportunity to have this kind of relationship with them.”

Having these conversations, she says, has made her realize how important it is to have them in the first place and to keep them going. “I think that women need to continue these conversations and hash out a lot of things, just to get on the same page,” she says. “It’s not that men don’t have a place in these conversations, but women need to share a common language first”.  Bailey adds that the culture of girls and young women being each other’s worst enemies is still applicable today which makes these conversations are even more important. “I think a lot of us are having conversations with our sons about consent, we also need to be having conversations with our daughters about the importance of looking out for each other instead of judging and putting each other down. I feel like the entire cast of this show – despite obvious age differences and varying sexual orientations – have all got each other’s backs. And that feels amazing.”

The UBC production of the Vagina Monologues is a “V-Day” production, which means that a new monologue will be incorporated into the performance, one that was written specifically for this year. It also means that all the money raised through the performance will go to a Vancovuer women’s charity, although it has yet to be decided which one. “The play is a bit dated, but I still think it is worth doing and really educational for both the cast and the audience,” says Bailey. “And it would be great if men could come to the show with an open heart, understanding that being anti-patriarchy is not being anti-male.”

 

The UBC V-Day performance of the Vagina Monologues will take place on February 17 and 18 at UBC’s Fredric Wood Theatre. Tickets are available online here.