SPP Students Perform in The Vagina Monologues

On March 19 and 20, the Human RightS Initiative (HRSI) staged performances of The Vagina Monologues. Directed by Simona Gamonte, this is the seventh consecutive year that CEU students have performed the award-winning play. Performers included School of Public Policy (SPP) students Shreya Bhattacharya, Suluck Fai Lamubol, and Shaileshwori Sharma (all MPA ’16). “This play is full of empowering messages on love and humanity,” commented Bhattacharya.

Written by V-Day founder Eve Ensler, The Vagina Monologues is based on Ensler’s interviews with over 200 women in a celebration of their sexuality and strength. This year, all proceeds from HRSI’s production went to HaNEM (Homeless Women for Each Other).

Bhattacharya, Lamubol, and Sharma each performed monologues focused on various aspects of womanhood. Bhattacharya performed “Hair,” telling the story of a woman who made the choice not to shave her pubic hair despite societal pressures. “This monologue shows us the importance of loving someone exactly as she is,” Bhattacharya added. Also participating in the collaborate monologue “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy,” Bhattacharya and her fellow actresses told the story of transgender women and their journey in finding their true identity.

In “The Vagina Workshop,” Lamubol portrayed a woman who embarked on a self-empowering journey after participating in a workshop that teaches women about their vaginas. “This workshop represents a liberation of women,” said Lamubol.

Sharma acted as a Bosnian refugee in “My Vagina Was My Village.” Based on one of Ensler’s interviews with Bosnian refugees during the war with Yugoslavia, this powerful monologue tells the story of rape as a tool in times of war. “This monologue carries special meaning for me given the unaddressed cases of many Nepali women who were victims of sexual violence during the decade-long armed conflict between Maoist fighters and government forces,” added Sharma.

Watch a recording of The Vagina Monologues here.