This week, as predicted, University President Thayne McCulloh has banned the Vagina Monologues from being performed on campus. After I let out a gale-force sigh, I had to figure out how best to respond personally, socially and in this column. Upon the news of the ban, I overheard a student say something to the effect of “this is just a group of angry, bitter women with nothing better to worry about.” To this person, I send an eye-roll that could throw the Earth off orbit. Forget the misogynistic musings of certain students; the issue is about more than petty name-calling. This issue is about who we are as students in the pursuit of knowledge and who we are as an intellectual and social community. This issue is the intersection of art, entertainment and our identities both individually and as a Gonzaga community.
I think it is most appropriate to begin with a bit of an aside. My following response to the ban on The Vagina Monologues is not meant to be a personal attack on Dr. McCulloh. I understand that as Interim President after the unusually powerful predecessor Father Spitzer would be both daunting and confining. I applaud Dr. McCulloh’s attempt at being as open-minded as possible in an infrastructure bequeathed to him and appreciate his continued efforts to search for the greatest good. Additionally, I take seriously the connection to Catholic teachings that many members of the Gonzaga community feel. I respect and admire faithfulness; I simply think it’s time for some honest discussion.
As a student on a college campus that waxes poetic about “educating the people the world needs most,” I am frequently disappointed with the number of times the university chooses repression over education, silence over honest discussion. Many times on this campus I have encountered young adults uncomfortable with the anatomical names of their body parts and utterly baffled as to their health and function. In our Anatomy and Physiology classes, the entire reproductive system is ignored. In our efforts to “educate,” we often silence information about birth control, reproductive health and anatomical fact.
For some, this stems from religious teachings and conservatism. I understand religious guidance and I respect that as an important facet of many students’ lives. However, I do not see how religious conviction should stand in the way of understanding our bodies. Especially in a church that places such a premium on the conception and rearing of children, it seems antithetical to deny the anatomy that does the work. Accepting our body as part of our holistic self doesn’t stand in the way of our relationship with God, it can strengthen it.
Some arguments against the Monologues focus on what some consider to be glorification of acts they see as immoral, often including frank discussions of heterosexual and homosexual sex. However, these arguments do not take into account the wide array of topics covered in the show. This argument is like saying The Bible is merely about the Creation story. Yes, some of the Monologues focus on sex, but there are many other topics discussed including: sexual violence, objectification, birth, intimacy, and the importance of language in gender equality. Acknowledgment of these topics is important, and indeed vital, in our creation of a Christ-like community of people who truly love each other as Jesus calls us to do.
On a campus under the heavy control of the Catholic Church, I find one of issues to be the ideal of Mary as the Blessed Virgin. One of the largest miracles celebrated in the Catholic tradition is the Virgin Birth. In this way, we create a climate on campus that separates Godly women from their bodies. Women of faith strive for closeness to God and, in the example of Mary, the anatomy and function of the human reproductive system are entirely by-passed. If we are to emulate the Blessed Virgin, we are to strive for alienation from our anatomy. This is not to detract from the miracle of the Virgin Birth, but rather, is merely an observation in what we value as a community and its effects on who we are as men and women of God.
Likely protests from both sides of the argument will continue to build. Likely, the Vagina Monologues will still be held off-campus. Likely, the event will be fraught with tension from fervent supporters and avid opponents. While these events may be the only knowable future for the debate, we must look to use this moment as a means by which we take an honest, rational look at what we really want to be known for as the collective body of the Gonzaga community. What will really matter is how we use this moment as a way to educate ourselves about our bodies, our health and who we are as holistic beings.
