While many of us accepted gifts from our significant others – and the majority of us spent our night with Netflix – MU celebrated another Valentine’s Day by participating in V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls around the world.
MU students, faculty and staff annually participate in V-Day by performing “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler. By going around the world and interviewing women and girls who are victims to violence, Ensler created a stage where their stories could have a voice.
After she began performing “The Vagina Monologues,” people from the audience would approach her afterward to share their stories. It was then that Ensler decided she would use her play to raise funds and awareness to help end violence all across the world.
“This is an event where we give women the opportunity to forget what is considered polite and talk about forbidden topics,” said cast member Vera Haynes. “It will also give you the chance to see what women around the world deal with every day.”
Haynes was first introduced to “The Vagina Monologues” at her summer camp in eighth grade. Her camp counselor was the director of Truman State University’s Women’s Resource Center and informed her about the production and let her borrow Ensler’s book – which she read in just two days.
“It really opened my eyes to what it meant to be a female and a feminist,” said Haynes.
This was the first year Haynes had the chance to participate in “The Vagina Monologues,” an experience she describes simply as “powerful.”
“I learned that when you bring that many young women together, there’s nothing we can’t do,” said Haynes.
Mizzou’s performance of “The Vagina Monologues” is sponsored by STARS (Stronger Together Against Relationship & Sexual Violence). Ninety percent of the proceeds raised stay in Columbia with their beneficiaries: True North Shelter, LEAD Institute, Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition and MU Stop the Violence fund. Ten percent of the benefits go towards international V-Day initiatives, ending violence all across the world.
There are multiple ways to get involved with the V-Day campaign, whether it’s by becoming a part of the cast for next year’s performance, helping with the fundraising events or just simply spreading the word to your friends. This year’s V-Day may be another memory made, but spreading the awareness never stops.