Letter to the Editor,

While I’m sure every misogynist currently attending Grand Valley found the Lanthorn’s most recent editorial cartoon about The Vagina Monologues positively hilarious, I personally found it lacking in any sort of sensitivity of insight. The themes and topics of The Vagina Monologues may seem funny to anyone whose maturity level is still stuck in seventh grade homeroom, but for those who have actually gained the critical thinking skills and social awareness that is supposedly the college Hallmark, The Vagina Monologues do in fact carry a very empowering and important message.

Like maybe the importance of women’s ownership over their bodies, their sexuality, and a female identity that draws strength from coalition with other women. The activists who take part in The Vagina Monologues, by reclaiming their bodies, owning their sexuality, and coming together, provide a stark contrast to the women who are currently living in environments where such freedoms for women come at a high and dangerous cost. Every year the proceeds from The Vagina Monologues go towards helping such women, both abroad and in local communities.

Inequalities amongst people, whether it is based on sex, gender, religion, sexuality, race, ethnicity or whatever other seemingly despicable “difference” marks them as deserving of fewer rights, are perpetuated by attitudes such as the one exhibited in the Editorial Cartoon. Sexist jokes are just as “harmless” as racist jokes, anti-Semitic jokes, or any other joke that seeks to demean a certain group of people. It is that same attitude that has allowed the co-opting of women’s bodies by largely male-run media companies, governments, and religions to keep women In Their Place and alienated from their bodies for the past several thousand years. So, congratulations, Lanthorn, for continuing that time-honored tradition!

The Vagina Monologues are meant to be funny, heart-breaking, inspiring, infuriating; they’re meant to make you feel something, teach you something, think. Obviously, no thought went into the making of the Editorial Cartoon which not only completely missed the point of the show, but dissed every activist who took part. Somehow, this C*nt failed to get the joke.

Sincerely,

Devin Lagasse