“Forbidden word” offensive to reader
I usually try to look at things objectively. My criticisms are generally kept clean, and to the point. However, nothing has ever evoked as much disgust as the article discussing “The Vagina Monologues.”
I don’t want to oppose the thought of the so-called enlightened females-heaven forbid someone rain on their feministic vaginal parade. I suppose that after the previous statement, I should also mention that I am a woman, though one who is currently ashamed to be a part of this category.
I would like to point out that many newspaper writers have encountered great indignation from the public because they did not get all of the facts straight. In the case of the poor, defenseless woman who was strapped to a bed, though there was no fabrication of information, the actual situation was misrepresented. The woman spoken of is strong, independent, and fully in control of the situations she chooses to enter into. She would never allow herself to be put in a situation as represented in the article.
More disturbingly than the construed facts is that the fundamental basis of this article is inherently flawed. OK, it’s not just flawed, it’s flat out wrong. The woman mentioned did not fight for a word. Admittedly the word vagina was what got the ball rolling, but 30 seconds into the event, nobody remembered or cared about the vagina.
I am not typically extremely bothered by feminism; they can say and do whatever they want. However, I refuse to be spoken for by a group of ignorant, self-righteous women. Perhaps vaginas should not be considered dirty places, but is it necessary to run around forcing people to incorporate it into their everyday vocabulary? It is called a private area for a reason. There are laws against indecent exposure for a reason. Some people prefer not to say it for a reason.
Lilan Nguyen
“Battered woman” story misused, blown out of proportion
Recently I appeared as the anonymous woman who had been “physically hurt by two large males.” I am correcting what I believe to be a gross misrepresentation of a personal experience of mine. I feel my story was misused and reflects poorly on both my friends and me. While I understand Ms. Smith’s use of my story to make a point, I was not pleased to hear that this article had been printed. I am not inferring this was the fault of the Clarion; I simply want to make it very clear that the situation was blown out of proportion.
These males are my personal friends; I was infuriated to find that the campus paper had slandered their characters. In addition, I was never consulted before this story went to print and I was not asked for clarification on the situation or permission to use my personal experience as an advertisement for a play.
To make clear: I am not the victim of some horrible crime perpetrated by mentally twisted males. I was just joking around with two other fellow students. I am not “a woman [that] fought for a word, a concept, a piece of [my] anatomy that [my] friend [has] labeled ‘a dirty word’.” I was teasing my friend about something he found uncomfortable. Maybe the world isn’t ready to use the word vagina in its everyday vocabulary. It’s certainly not something I do, but I don’t take offense to people that are uncomfortable with hearing it. They have the right to avoid situations in which they are uneasy.
It is my hope that in the future both reporter and newspaper will be more careful in their transmission of news. I would hope that they would strive for truth and shy away from those stories which are unnecessarily slanderous, misrepresentative and sensationalized to the degree of a tabloid article. I would also like to extend a personal apology to my two friends for this defamation of their characters.
Kendra Youngren
Response from Lys Smith
I was wrong. I broke a trust which had been formed between the actresses in The Vagina Monologues and that should not have happened. I did not mean to slander anyone, and I am sorry that it appeared that way. Had I to write that article again, I would take a different approach to it, but I believe the core should remain the same – the word vagina isn’t in our every-day vocabulary.
The Vagina Monologues, and my article concerning them, is not a “feministic vaginal parade,” and I’m sorry you view them that way. The Vagina Monologues are not for everyone. They are not, nor, I think, should they be. The viewpoints expressed in my article are MINE – hold ME accountable for them, not the so-called “group of ignorant, self-righteous women.” The group of women performing The Vagina Monologues is hardworking, dedicated, gutsy and willing to go out onto stage and talk about something this country doesn’t ordinarily talk about. And they do it very well. YOU come down and watch our practices, the hoops we’ve had to jump through from day one and see the time and sweat and hard work EVERYONE both on stage and behind the scenes has put into making this show a reality. Get to know these women, THEN make your judgment calls. You want to blame someone, blame me, not them. I am proud of these women and what we have accomplished.
Lys Smith
