Ladies of the ASU women’s center,

I find myself a bit confused after hearing about your play the Vagina Monologues perhaps you’ll be so kind as to answer a few of my questions:

1.The first question I have is what is the appropriate term for me to use when addressing a women. I have always been taught that the “C-word” is derogatory, but according the Monologues its perfectly ok to chant at the top of your lungs over and over again. Does this mean that men are allowed to call women this whenever they want? Isn’t that objectifying women? Doesn’t the objectification of women lead to violence? Isn’t that what the feminist movement is trying to eradicate.

2. What’s the new rule on staring at a women’s private parts the play contains a skit: “Because he Liked to Look at it” in it a man is viewed as a hero for being obsessed with a women’s private area. Does this mean it’s ok for men to be obsessed with a women’s privates… I mean more so? I’m not that attractive if I claim I’m obsessed with vaginas will I get more dates?

3. I am fairly certain you support “take back the night” a program that tries to prevent rape, however in your play child rape by intoxication (the source of most if not all rapes on campus) is glorified, a women gets a 16 year old kid drunk and molests her. (She was 13 in the original version) Somehow the girl is happy afterwards because she’ll never have to rely on a man. In the original version wasn’t the girl 16 and didn’t she call the rape a “good rape”? What would be your reaction if a frat boy got a 16 year old girl drunk and molested her? How you claim to oppose rape when you put your name on performances like this?

4. Doesn’t the 6 foot vagina that you made literally reduce women to only their private parts. (Or was that open space at the top of it not for costume purposes but something far more disturbing?)

5. Why do you wish to change Valentine’s Day to Vagina Day? Isn’t the behavior of men on Valentine’s day (Buying flowers and chocolate) very supportive of women, wouldn’t it decrease violence against women if in fact you encouraged chivalry and respect for women instead of respect for their body parts?

I truly hope that you will find the time to answer my questions,

Farewell,

Graham Shaw