Spring Break
Women's Center changes V-Day
Teresa Sheffield
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: Culture
Alright, I'm going to say it, vagina.
Okay, now that the word is out of the way, I figure you did one of two things. Either you turned the page as fast as you could, or you suddenly became very intrigued.
V-day is probably not the Valentine's Day holiday you're thinking of. In fact, it's celebrating a much more somber topic.
On Valentine's Day weekend, 112 countries around the world celebrate V-Day. The purpose of this celebration is to raise funds and awareness of violence against women.
The "V" in V-day stands for "Victory, Valentine and Vagina."
Here in Kansas City, V-Day is sponsored by the UMKC Women's Center.
Cassandra Clark, director of the V-Day celebration said the Women's Center is a huge resource for women.
"We also do a lot of events all year to help women ... we cover sexual violence, sexual abuse ... we pretty much cover every gambit of issue ..."
The Women's Center has a crisis number and trained people who can help women experiencing an immediate need, Clark said.
The Women's Center earns V-day funds that go to the National V-Day Campaign by putting on a production of the play "The Vagina Monologues" by Eve Ensler.
"Last year we raised about $8,000, we're hoping that this year we will as well." Clark said.
This year those funds are going to the women in New Orleans, according to Clark.
"The Vagina Monologues" is a collection of 20 true stories compiled by Ensler after interviewing 200 women all over the world about their vaginas.
Their stories deal with topics such as rape, sex, mutilation and birth.
"I think that it really pushes girls to be more comfortable with themselves as well as other women." said Jennilee Pangpuz, one of the actors. "Especially in a world where there's society telling us that we're not the way that we're supposed to be."
This is the fourth year UMKC has helped put on this event, and because it's the same play every year audience attendance has decreased.
Okay, now that the word is out of the way, I figure you did one of two things. Either you turned the page as fast as you could, or you suddenly became very intrigued.
V-day is probably not the Valentine's Day holiday you're thinking of. In fact, it's celebrating a much more somber topic.
On Valentine's Day weekend, 112 countries around the world celebrate V-Day. The purpose of this celebration is to raise funds and awareness of violence against women.
The "V" in V-day stands for "Victory, Valentine and Vagina."
Here in Kansas City, V-Day is sponsored by the UMKC Women's Center.
Cassandra Clark, director of the V-Day celebration said the Women's Center is a huge resource for women.
"We also do a lot of events all year to help women ... we cover sexual violence, sexual abuse ... we pretty much cover every gambit of issue ..."
The Women's Center has a crisis number and trained people who can help women experiencing an immediate need, Clark said.
The Women's Center earns V-day funds that go to the National V-Day Campaign by putting on a production of the play "The Vagina Monologues" by Eve Ensler.
"Last year we raised about $8,000, we're hoping that this year we will as well." Clark said.
This year those funds are going to the women in New Orleans, according to Clark.
"The Vagina Monologues" is a collection of 20 true stories compiled by Ensler after interviewing 200 women all over the world about their vaginas.
Their stories deal with topics such as rape, sex, mutilation and birth.
"I think that it really pushes girls to be more comfortable with themselves as well as other women." said Jennilee Pangpuz, one of the actors. "Especially in a world where there's society telling us that we're not the way that we're supposed to be."
This is the fourth year UMKC has helped put on this event, and because it's the same play every year audience attendance has decreased.
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