Going into the Vagina Monologues as both viewers and journalists, we were very unsure of what to expect, especially after being told repeatedly to make sure we were eighteen before going. The premise of the Vagina Monologues honestly scared us into thinking it would be a solemn and lamentable recount about the horrible atrocity that is sexual assault.

    Man were we wrong.

    Walking into the Logan Street Sanctuary was enough to put us on edge. Fairy lights hung from posters preaching the empowerment of women. The image of a Muslim woman wearing a hijab printed with the American flag hung center stage. Loud music blared and the performers sang along while they mingled with the crowd.  To us it seemed like juxtaposition paradise.

   Performers varied from Prevail employees to Noblesville’s own English teacher Nicole May and local substitute Diane Reed. All carried notecards, not to remember their lines, but to remember that what they said was the stories of real women around the world.

    What we thought would be a sorrowful performance turned into a praise of women’s sexuality and awareness about women’s health. Performers interacted with the crowd during the performance. 

    Although slightly vulgar and pleasantly blunt, the Vagina Monologues offered no offensive or heinous acts. We recommend that everyone, men and women alike, attend one of the hundreds of performances across the country in order to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a woman around the world, from transgender women to sexual assault victims, to everyday girls growing up in an immensely diverse world.

Read more about sexual assault in Noblesville www.millermedianow.org/4148/uncategorized/it-can-happen-to-anyone/