The Vagina Monologues in a Chinese Context: Discussing the Value of the Localized Adaptations

Yuxuan Zhang

doi:10.5539/ells.v10n4p47

Abstract

The silence around female genitalia and sexuality is a prevalent phenomenon with grave implications. Eve Ensler, an American playwright, wrote the famous Vagina Monologues to combat such issues and aim to end violence against women. While Ensler&rsquo;s play is popular on a global scale, the localized versions inspired by Ensler are also emerging in various regions. A Chinese feminist organization, The Vagina Project, has created their own script and organized several localized performances in the past few years. A close analysis of one of the scripts written by the Vagina Project demonstrates that the localized versions of The Vagina Monologues, though less paid attention to, are effective in creating connections with the audience. Being attuned to the regional feminist differences allows the play to be more powerful and thoughtful when presented to the audience.

Highlights

Two years ago, my classmates and I conducted a class activity, where we listed slangs for female genitals and male genitals
The silence around female genitalia and sexuality is a prevalent phenomenon with grave implications
A close analysis of one of the scripts written by the Vagina Project demonstrates that the localized versions of The Vagina Monologues, though less paid attention to, are effective in creating connections with the audience

Summary

Introduction

My classmates and I conducted a class activity, where we listed slangs for female genitals and male genitals. A recent study confirmed our conclusions, further suggesting that men were able to produce more terms than women, for both male and female genitalia. This indicates that men are more comfortable conversing about sexual issues (Note 1). In the feminist perspective, breaking the silence around female sexuality is viewed as a first step toward combatting the crime of rape (Note 8). I introduce a local Chinese feminist group that created its own version of The Vagina Monologues. I argue that while Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues have been globally circulated and discussed, the localized versions merit scholarly attention. By being attuned to regional nuances and elements, the localized versions form closer connections with the local audience and are more effective for female empowerment

The Vagina Monologues: A Brief Overview

Literature Review

Findings

The Vagina Monologues in China