Vagina Monologues Outdated/Exclusionary?

I wouldn't have thought so, but I don't want to have a knee-jerk reaction to this, so...is this fair?Please don't confuse this with trolling. I am as progressive as you can get.

YPSILANTI, MI - Eastern Michigan University's Women's Resource Center will no longer host productions of "The Vagina Monologues," noting that the play's version of feminism excludes some women.

The WRC announced its decision in an email, which came after the center evaluated responses from a survey. Survey respondents opposing the production consistently indicated they were concerned that the play centers on cisgender women, that the play's version of feminism excludes some women, including trans women, and that overall, "The Vagina Monologue" lacks diversity and inclusion.



The survey was launched as a result of conversations with current students, as well as feedback from a WRC workshop titled "Not all women have vaginas," during the 2017-18 academic year.

According to the WRC, both brought up conflicting ideas and concerns about the effectiveness and relevance of "The Vagina Monologues," an episodic play written by activist Eve Ensler in 1994, offering a series of first-person narratives in which women speak about their vaginas.

"This created a need to ask the question: Do we still need 'The Vagina Monologues?' And, are 'The Vagina Monologues' still relevant to next generation feminists?" the email from the WRC says.

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2018/11/emu_group_ends_the_vagina_mono.html

OFFS

This absurdity is becoming more and more prevalent in some quarters. Unable to cope or deal with the actual oppressors who are actively planning their destruction, sjw's are erecting circular firing squads to eradicate any variance to their agenda and purity of purpose. btw I do think you are trolling though.

“The survey was launched as a result of conversations with current students, as well as feedback from a WRC workshop titled "Not all women have vaginas.”


Okay...well all biological women have vaginas. Celebrating women who are cisgender does not mean any negative connotations towards or dismissiveness towards trans women.

I think that while respect for all gender identities is important, it’s also important to remember that more than 99% of people are cisgender. Also, at least 95% of people are heterosexual. Enough with the complaints about the world bring “cis-centered” or “heteronormative.” I love and respect all non-cis and non-straight people, but come on. There are countless minority groups out there and not everyone is going to get invited to every party.

Updated On: 11/19/18 at 09:56 PM

g.d.e.l.g.i. -

That's probably the best solution if an organization is concerned about inclusion. I still feel that there's nothing wrong with doing the play with a totally cis-gender cast, but if the community has a significant trans population, and they want to feel represented or be included, then why not. The whole point of the play is to make people feel good about their bodies and to share and celebrate the human female experience.

The Vagina Monologues is not only a play, it's feminist activism. Since the time it was written, feminism has expanded as trans people have asserted their voices in the fight for equality. I think Ensler should revisit the piece to explore today's feminism that includes trans issues.

I don't understand why the results of an interest survey for students has resulted in any other response besides "okay they're not interested in that!". No one is asking the show to change, they just aren't interested in seeing it. Ensler is an infamous second wave feminist who many consider "behind the times", it's not unreasonable a group of students would want to hear from someone else.