Our Shared Shelf discussion

I tore through this book (it is an easy read and also quite interesting), but when I finished reading it I didn't feel "done". I realized that I have my own "Vagina Monologue" inside of me that I needed to release and I just began writing. I haven't finished it yet, but the tears mixed with a feeling of great relief have been plenty already. I want to post it here when I am done and I want to leave a space for others who felt the same desire I did, to share their own "Vagina Monologue".

If I only had a vagina... mind if I write a penis monolog? Since they are but both human sexual organs and are equals.

Eternal wrote: "If I only had a vagina... mind if I write a penis monolog? Since they are but both human sexual organs and are equals."

Did you know that the clitoris and the penis develop from the same anlage(is that really the English word for it? It's so German)?

Could say modern civilization has been a penis monologue

Ross wrote: "Could say modern civilization has been a penis monologue "

I gotta read that. Thanks for posting:)

@Ross Why does a penis have to be something bad Ross? Why can't it be something beautiful? Why are all penises automatically 'masculine' and tools of rape?

I hesitate to even reply. But, c'mon. This is a book club. Literature, discussion of books.opinions, experiences. Really.

Astrid wrote: "My book of the "Vagina Monologues" didn't yet arrive, so I didn't begin reading. But I would be curious to hear more Vagina Monologues! Penis Monologues: At first I thought: Why not, I would be cur..."

Well, don't you think we as feminists would behave ourselves and not post derogatory posts, may they be about vaginas or penises either way.
But I know where you come from, with this comment.

Astrid wrote: "@ Administrators: Please erase my comment in this thread, it seems to be misunderstandable. I don't know how to do it myself."

If you want to delete it, on the computer version you can see "reply, edit, delete" when it is your own comment.
I didn't mean to come off as rude, I just wanted to say that I can see why you made that comment.

I agree with Ross for the most part here. Penises simply don't have the same stigma for cis men. I'd be interested in hearing the thoughts of women with penises on their relationship with their genitalia though. It's not about penises being bad, Eternal Student. It's about what's accepted as normal in society. Women's genitalia, whether penis or vagina, holds more social stigma.

I am happy to contribute my own vagina monologue but I want to finish watching the HBO special on YouTube first. I had never read The Vagina Monologues before Emma suggested it and I think watching the performances is adding something to my experience of it.

Good point, Ross!

I think our own Vagina, or Penis, Monologues would be really interesting. I bet we have a lot of stories....

Amy wrote: "I am happy to contribute my own vagina monologue but I want to finish watching the HBO special on YouTube first. I had never read The Vagina Monologues before Emma suggested it and I think watching..."

I didn't know about this special! Has the link already been posted on the forum? Would you mind posting it here (if the video is still online)? :-)

Laure wrote: "Amy wrote: "I am happy to contribute my own vagina monologue but I want to finish watching the HBO special on YouTube first. I had never read The Vagina Monologues before Emma suggested it and I th..."

If you don't mind me answering this question that wasn't directed at me.. :)
http://youtu.be/YUg85s27uJU
Somebody mentioned it in another thread, but I don't think there was any link posted so far.

Thanks Jule! :-)

When I first clicked this threat...I assumed people would actually be writing their own vagina monologues here..but I guess it makes sense that a discussion thread is being used to discuss it...not necessarily post it as if it were a blog. Has anyone actually written one yet? I know when I was reading the book, I just answered most of her questions, or shared them with my friends.

Griselda wrote: "When I first clicked this threat...I assumed people would actually be writing their own vagina monologues here..but I guess it makes sense that a discussion thread is being used to discuss it...not..."

I don't know, if anything, I'd write my own clitoris monologue.

I agree with some of the above readers. I'd love to see a revised edition of Vagina Monologues featuring LGBTQ stories, whether they are trans women with penises or vice versa. I loved Vagina Monologues but didn't feel it really encapsulated a diverse selection as would be more appropriate today

Lauren wrote: "I agree with some of the above readers. I'd love to see a revised edition of Vagina Monologues featuring LGBTQ stories, whether they are trans women with penises or vice versa. I loved Vagina Monol..."

Diversity is so much needed, it's good to see that others (like you) are of the same opinion like me.

I love the idea of writing my own Monologue. While this thread has become a bit more of a debate than a place to share monologues, I think we should try to return this thread to that: sharing your own Monologue!

I actually saw TVM performed live back in college. It was powerful: Women of all different ages, ethnicities, and orientations coming together. But I've only just begun to realize how beautiful it really is. I've only recently become sexually active and even just sexually minded and I think because of that, this is so much more poignant than it originally was for me.

Because of that, I'd love to write my own Vagina Monologue and share it here when I finish it.

Lauren wrote: "I agree with some of the above readers. I'd love to see a revised edition of Vagina Monologues featuring LGBTQ stories, whether they are trans women with penises or vice versa. I loved Vagina Monol..."

There was one trans monologue added, and the intersex community has written one too, but it's not really included in the book, but one can find it online:
http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/sto...

If I had to write my own monologue, it would be about yeast infections and the uncomfortable things that happen to our vaginas. I just don't know why I get one every time I join a TVM production (it must be the stress) but I hate it and I hate how women don't talk about it.

I think I am going to take the time to write my own vagina monologue. I would like to write one that does deal with sexual assault on a less violent scale. I feel like the the Bosnian War crimes opens eyes to the problem, but I think it's harder for some people to connect with because it seems outrageous what these women went through. I would like to create a monologue that deals with issues such as sexual assault on college campuses.

MeerderWörter wrote: "There was one trans monologue added, and the intersex community has written one too, but it's not really included in the book, but one can find it online:
http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/sto... "

Thanks for the link :-)

I'll try to write my own as well. But I already feel embarrassed with the idea to share such an intimate story! Still not comfortable with "vagina" as a word, as a part of me, and so on.
I'm longing to read all of yours as well :-)

I think the different formats used in TVM are really useful to unleash creativity!

Laure wrote: "I'll try to write my own as well. But I already feel embarrassed with the idea to share such an intimate story! Still not comfortable with "vagina" as a word, as a part of me, and so on.
I'm longin..."

Before I write my own, I need my medical records... You can't write about a topic you know very little about.

No problem... I haven't read the monologue yet tho...

EDIT: Too much triggering content in there.

MeerderWörter wrote: "Before I write my own, I need my medical records... You can't write about a topic you know very little about."

I get your point, but I believe you'd know this topic also without medical records :-) I mean, that's a part of you, and that is the story of you as well! The fact that you can't touch or see your vagina* so easily doesn't mean that you don't feel it and know it, in your way...

*I still have a lot of trouble to say/write the word!! Damn!

Thanks for the reassurement.

P.S.: I don't have a problem with naming any of the female sex organs, but I do have a problem with naming the male ones.

MeerderWörter wrote: "EDIT: Too much triggering content in there. "

I wouldn't say "too much", but this is definitely hard to read and there should be a warning. This monologue made me so sad for her.

Laure wrote: "MeerderWörter wrote: "EDIT: Too much triggering content in there. "

I wouldn't say "too much", but this is definitely hard to read and there should be a warning. This monologue made me so sad for ..."

The "too much" depends on what the individual had to endure. Well, now you know the sad truth about how intersex children are treated.