Women’s empowerment and art came together recently at Baldwin Wallace’s Conservatory of Music.
BW hosted Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” on Sunday, February 3 in Kadel Vocal Music Hall following the Women’s Empowerment Festival, G-Spot.
“The Vagina Monologues” are real-life accounts that are based off interviews between Ensler and the all interviewees who were all women.
The event focused on specific sexual violence topics that are labeled as “uncomfortable” and “graphic” by some.
“It’s really an experience,” said Tracy Grady, lecturer in voice and faculty advisor for the event for the past three years. “There are some that are hilarious, and there are some that are heartbreaking, some that are beautiful, and they are all real women. But we are not actors, we are just telling these women’s stories.”
“The Vagina Monologues” has become not only an event that promotes awareness against sexual violence, but shares an outreach for charities that advocate for all women, including at BW and within the community.
This year’s beneficiary for the event was Laura’s Home, in which the event raised about $500 dollars in proceeds that is directly given to benefit the services that Laura’s Home offers to women and children in need within the city of Cleveland.
Furthermore, the Spotlight Donation for this year’s event focused on women in prison and detention centers who have been affected by sexual and physical abuse prior to incarceration, collecting 48 packages of feminine products and allotting 10% of all cash proceeds to directly help these women.
Donations were accepted at the door as admission to the event in the form of feminine products, or a monetary value of five dollars in cash which goes directly into funding and charity.
The hope for “The Vagina Monologues” on campus, said Grady, is to continue to promote action against sexual violence and advocate women’s health not only on one day in February, but throughout each year the program runs.
After speaking with Grady about the future of “The Vagina Monologues,” the event team is seeking to become an official organization on campus.
“Anyone who auditions, will be put in the show,” Grady said. “If anyone wants to help, we will find a spot for you.”
The program, aside from wanting to expand, allows for students who are interested to reach out, or show support. Female students are especially encouraged to audition to be apart of “The Vagina Monologues,” and this is offered each year that the project is hosted.
The team’s hope is that event will become a regular yearly showcase and to expand efforts in promoting women’s health and speaking out against sexual violence by means of other events, such as a women’s health fair and workshops throughout the school year.