Although we are affiliated with V-Day, we here at The Smith College V-Day campaign also critique The Vagina Monologues. The play's equation of vaginas and womanhood are isolating to the experiences of transgender people. Although Ensler strove to include trans women with a monologues written in 2004, this monologue is an optional part of the script. Furthermore, this monologue assumes that all trans women want to medical transition and have a vagina, which is an inaccurate and dangerous misrepresentation of the experiences of trans people.
Additionally, the current lack of trans women at Smith College impels us to perform this monologued, titled "They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy ... Or So They Tried" with actors who are not trans women. We hope to include trans women in coming years. We understand that performing this monologue with our current actors is problematic. However, we ultimately felt that it was important to present the stories and discrimination of trans women that are exemplified in the monologue in order to express support for trans women and open up discussion of their inclusion at Smith.
We also have other critiques of The Vagina Monologues and Enselr's work. Many of the monologues present women of color, particularly those of non-Western origin, as an oppressed 'other' in need of Western aid. Additionally, many of the monologues that present narratives specific to women of color and or non-Western women are included in the optional section of the script. Furthermore, the Monologues' depiction of sex workers is problematics, and the monologues "The Little Coochi Snorcher that Could" seems to glorify a non-consensual sexual experience.
We at the Smith College V-Day campaign recognize the work that V-Day has done in raising both awareness o the violence don against women globally and donations for organizations that work to eliminate this violence. However, we do not believe that supporting an organization negates ourru right to critique it. We strive to make The Vagina Monologues as inclusive and equitable a performance as we can.
