***the Vagina monologues***

was invited last week and went to see this show.
I didn't really know what to expect, and went with an open mind.
Although the show was well done, it left me feeling degraded, disrespected, and invaded as a woman. Parts of it were vulgar, crude, and totally unapropriate! There was no support of the importance of the patriarchal role in society, and basically gave the message that women would do better without men.
Here's an article we found on it, check it out, it's interesting.
http://www.savethemales.ca/241001.html

 

I have seen this show 5 or so times now.....I thought it was great! You said that you thought parts were "inapropriate".....the name of the show didn't give you any clue as to how the show is??? I found myself laughing the whole time. There are parts that are true and parts that I think were alittle crazy......but in the end, it was suppose to show you that ALL women are different and that as a women it's ok to talk to people about sex and the ways you masterbate......IT'S LIFE!!!!!!
I am sorry you didn't enjoy the show......but I know at least 50 people who love to see it again!

 

I agree with seahorse, I didn't like this play when we read it in Humanities class. It was radically feministic, to a not so good extreme.

 

It is pretty feminist to an extreme...and I'm not into that. It didn't make me feel degraded, disrespected, or invaded at all though. I don't really see how it would. And as far as being vulgar, crude, and inappropriate...um, it's called The Vagina Monologues...so yeah, you kinda know what to expect.

And as far as giving the impression that women would do better without men...I don't really think it did that so much as it just let women know that they're powerful and beautiful in their own right. I think it just didn't concentrate on the men's role...since it was a play directed towards women and their bodies.

I dunno...I thought it was funny. Some parts went a little far...I hate completely close-minded feminist things, so I took it with a grain of salt. But at the same time, it was amusing and not at all inappropriate. And I didn't leave feeling any less respected or any more...degraded or what-have-you.

I probably wouldn't want to see it again, but for what it was...it entertained me for a few hours...lol.

 

I didn't find it to be man-hating at all (except for the rape monologue, which is kindof understandable to not be liking guys after having been raped for what, 7 days by their guns? oi). So guys weren't mentioned too much. Are you gonna be upset because blondes weren't mentioned in another play, or people of Native descent?

If you don't like it, don't go. If you feel you might be offended by teh plays, talk to your teacher/professor about it. I'm sure they'll be somewhat understanding.

The point of the monologues is alienation, not division. Guys talk about their penises a lot more than gals talk about their pussies with one another. It was a great way to learn without feeling awkward, and it was hella funny. Yes, some was a little more radical than I feel, but the author is entitled to her opinion.



oh, and I love this quote from that article: "We must face the fact that feminism is a homosexual movement in deadly competition with heterosexuality. Especially in time of war, we cannot afford to encourage a movement dedicated to social divisiveness and disintegration. In addition, we are exporting our homosexuality and depravity to the world. Muslim fundamentalists are fighting back."

Wooooh! Feminism now equals homosexuality! So, why am I still attracted to men?

 

i am NOT a liberated woman! lol I blushed when I was reading this silently

 

Maybe not all feminists are homosexual, but I think that the movement as a whole does promote being a man-hating lesbian.

 

are you serious?
there are lots of feminists who are male. there are also lots of feminists who are male and gay. i helped put on the vagina monologues at my old university with a couple gay men, definitely not lesbians. feminism doesn't promote hating men by any means.

seahorse, i'm very skeptical of how objective that article is... "If their wives are infected by our homosexuality, they will insist on becoming "independent" like men." oh wow, there's so much in there thats biased and twisted and misinterpreted i don't even know where to begin.

what was it that made you feel, "invaded as a woman?"

 

It's an entertaining play. Not everyone's thing...

As far as feminism teaching man-hating, some sects, sure. Not most. I'm a feminist. I love men! If this promotes all womyn being man-hating lezzies, does this mean anti-slavery laws being passed were just creating a bunch of drunken losers who complain about being held back by an innocent people?

 

savethemales.ca is a joke. I know so-called "anti feminists" who think that site is a joke.

 

You've been brainwashed by the Conservative Right. That is NOT what feminism is about, at ALL! Although ALL the lesbians I know are feminists, I know a LOT of hetero feminists, as well.

I REALLY hate the term "man hating lesbian." Most lesbians are NOTman haters, and neither are most REAL feminists.

They call me a feminist when I express view which differentiate me from a door mat.

Feminism, the radical notion that women are human.

THOSE are quotes from early feminists. NOTHING about hating men. Nothing about lesbians. Just the idea that womyn should be treated with respect and be allowed the same privleges as men. THAT'S IT!

PLEASE do some reading about feminism that dones't come from Radical Right Wing Bible Banging Misogynists. You may actually learn something, not only about feminism, but about yourself.

 

Which would be, what? Let a man make all your decisions for you? Can you elaborate on just what this means, cuz, I am a little confused. Are you saying that patriarcy should be held in higher regard than womynhood?

I agree with the poster who said that when going to a show entitled "The VAGINA Monologues" you might have an IDEA of what to expect. What did you expect? An obstetrical lecture?

 

I haven't seen the Vagina Monologues yet, so I am not going to comment on it, but I WILL say that I admire seahorse (and others) for posting her opinion when it seems to go against the "majority rules" opinion on hipforums. She is excercising a right she knows she has to express her opinion publicly, whatever that may be.

As far as feminists and lesbians, I see a lot of lumping together and stereotyping of groups. There are just as many different kinds of lesbians and feminists as there are anything else, and one does not necessarily give way to the other. But just as there are feminists and lesbians, there are women who choose to be heterosexual and appreciate having someone to take care of them, and are they wrong for this? No. They are not any more in the wrong for wanting this for themselves than lesbians and feminists are wanting the opposite.

Sure, many of these types of women oppose the ideals of feminists and lesbians, but you know what? I see a lot of feminists and lesbians opposing them too, just as much as they are being opposed to. And just like not all lesbians and feminists fit the stereotype, not all heterosexual non-feminists fit THEIR stereotype, either. If one were to know me in person they would assume I am a feminist, because I am very outspoken and refuse to be walked all over in most cases. I will be the first person up in someone's face if I feel any of my rights are being violated in ANY situation (and having a service dog, this has happened a lot). But I don't consider myself a feminists. I am heterosexual and I appreciate having a man in my life, and I appreciate the ways he takes care of me and I wish that there were certain ways he would take care of me that he doesn't. It's what I need for myself and in my life, and what goes with the spiritual beliefs deep down in my heart.

However, I don't agree with the extremists in EITHER "side"... Super feminist, super lesbian, super man-hating women really make me uncomfortable. Likewise, super conservative, prim and proper, repressed wives who let their husbands run every part of their life and let themselves get walked all over by others make me equally uncomfortable. I believe that being on either of these extremes is unhealthy and deluded, and life can't be happy either way.

But, in MOST cases, women are a healthy mix of both, some being more one than the other. And always, one disagrees with the other somehow, somewhere. So of course one "side" is always going to be saying something is wrong with the other side. My point is that we all need to realize this, and also realize "to each their own".

 

Bree, honey, I have news for you. You are a feminist.

My dh "takes care of me" (financially, for the most part) he is the main bread winner, he works full time, and I do not work full time outside the home, as I have the children to care for, and I don't feel day care would be of benefit to them at all, and Bear makes enough to support us comfortably. (JMO, not all mamas have this option and I am NOT judging anyone who has to use day care at all.) I run my own business, but it is not full time. You can be in a happy relationship with a male and STILL be a feminist. Really. It happens all the time. Bree, you refuse to be walked over, that is what is important.

Yes, the OP is entitled to her opinion, but if that opinion is based on flawed and misogynist propaganda, then it is important to let her know there are OTHER ways of thinking, and that what she was told about feminist is JUST WRONG.

She doesn't have to like the VM. (It makes no difference to me.) But I feel her "understanding" of feminism is flawed and skewed. And I would like a clarification of her definition of "patriarchy." The VM is ABOUT womyn, why would they have to give a nod to patriarcy? <shrugh> But, if she didn't like the play, that is her opinion.

 

it never fails to surprise me when i notice how many young women have such a negative view of feminism. doesn't it seem like such a taboo thing to be lately? maybe i'm wrong.
i've known many feminists in my life but i've never met the mythical man hating lesbian feminist yet. i used to have monthly meetings with a feminist group and they were all stay at home mothers. about as far from the feminist stereotype as you can get. and yet they were strong educated women who chose to stay at home for a few years while their children were little but still retained political feminist views. it was so inspiring being around these women!
i've never seen the vagina monologues, but i would love to someday. i would probably enjoy it.

kathy

 

Here's a good commentary by a moderate feminist on the harm that radical feminism has created for women:

http://www.cbmw.org/article.php?id=32

 

"The basis of feminist ideology is that rights, privilege, status and obligations should not be determined by gender."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism

 

Man whenever ya'll talk of man-hatin lesbian femanists, I'm jus reminded of...



1) All right, now see this? This is a four-way road, ok? And dead in the center, is a crisp, new hundred-dollar bill. Now at the end of each of these streets are four people, ok, you following? 2) Yeah. 1) Good. Over here, we have a male-affectionate, easy-to-get-along-with, non-agenda lesbian. Down here, we have a man-hating, angry as fuck, agenda-of-rage, bitter dyke. Over here we got Santa Claus, and up here the Easter Bunny. Which one of these people is going to get to the hundred-dollar bill first? 2) What is this supposed to prove? 1) No, really, this is a serious exercise. It's like an SAT question. Which one is going to get to the hundred-dollar bill first? The male-friendly lesbian, the man-hating dyke, Santa Claus, or the Easter bunny? 2) The man-hating dyke. 1) Good. Why? 2) I don't know. 1) Because the other three are FIGMENTS OF YOUR FUCKING IMAGINATION!

 

I need to say all of this, it is not intended to cause any hurt and is not meant for any one of you in particular, i am just sharing my views on humanity/sexuality/and true love. if anyone has any friendly comments or questions, i would love to continue posting.

If abortion or divorce was right, there would be no problems with it. Likewise, if being gay was right, there would be no problems with it. Nobody complains about a man and woman being together. Or a woman staying pregnant till term. It's when we wander out of God's plan for men and woman that the fighting begins.

Why do gay and lesbian individuals feel the need to shout out thier sexual preferences as far as thier voices will carry it? Why don't heterosexual people do the same? I AM A HETEROSEXUAL WOMAN!!! nope, nobody cares. It's old news, it's been overdone...let's go for something more exciting because we are ultra bored with anything that makes any sense. Enough with marriage and happy families! CHaos! Confusion! Disease! Broken Families! yeah that sounds more like it.

ok enough about being gay or lesbian (or even bisexual.)

What ever happened to the beauty of a quiet, modest woman? for example, an honourable woman who gets up in the morning to make pancakes for her family? Is this kind of love-in-action not happening anymore? Does it really make women feel like doormats?

As soon as someone with some good solid honest-to-GOd family values expresses themselves, why is it that they are labelled brainwashed or right winged? Too normal again i suppose. Too old fashioned. Too typical.

Why do women say they want equal rights, and then try and rise above the men in power and so conveniently leave them out of the picture like we would be better off without them? That doesn't sounds very equal to me. It sounds selfish and inconsiderate! Men love us...they just need to be shown how to do it properly. Unfortunately, as each generation passes, men and women become less of a role model and more of a bad influence for our children.

Yes there are alot of terrible, selfish men. But from all the terrible, selfish women i have come across in my lifetime, i think women are worse.
Women cannot seem to accept the fact that we are smaller. We are weaker. So what if we are? We give birth, we are beautiful, we bleed. Women are gifted in many many areas! But so are men.

You see, men and woman ARE equal. GOd created us equal. He doesn't hold men any closer to His heart than women. Men need us as much as we need them. It's like men are heads, and women are hearts. Blended together, we have a perfectly equal balance. (I would rather be a heart than a head) But because women are born into a feminist world that makes them feel inferior to men, they develop low self esteem and see men as animals without the ability to love or use thier conscience. This was not the way it's supposed to be!

If men are following God and learning how to be REAL men who love and have compassion and the honour and respect that God intended for them to have for women, the world would be a very different place. Also, it sure would help if women believed in themselves and the beauty of our being the smaller, weaker vessel. There is no shame in it! Men pretend to like trashy whores, but inside they desire a woman who is going to really LOVE him and believe in his ability to really LOVE her too.

Neither men or women are doing what we were created for, because we inherit sin, and all of us are lost without God. We cannot see clearly without His guidance for life, and love, and the beautiful intentions he had for the 2 wonderful, beautiful sexes.

Without Him we are confused, hurting, lost and scared. yes, scared. admit it, girls. Getting together and chanting "**** **** ****" (which was a very disturbing part of the vagina monloges) will not make us any less scared. It's our fear that brings us to that point of crying out for more power.
Without God we are left with a void that we try to fill with anything and everything. But it's a God-shaped void where only God can fit.
When you begin to seek Him, then you really begin to live and understand why the heck we're all here in the first place.


end rant.

i'm going to go and love my family now.

 

I have yet to meet one gay person going around screaming that they are gay. And really, the gay folks I know don't even go around jus sayin "I'm gay", 's jus understood by the rest of the populace. An the last thing I've heard screamed is "BUT I'M A ROBOT!"