Thursday October 4, 2001

If it sings like a bird and flies like a bird, call it a bird already.

It is the epitome of hypocrisy that the general public throws such words such as "dick" or "penis" around with little hesitation, but when the word "vagina" is spoken aloud, it is met with complete astonishment.

The way people pronounce the word is negligible at best. Most don't even know how to say it or which syllable to emphasize. And when someone dares an attempt to utter it, the usual response is an "ick" or an "ew."

Why?

Eve Ensler wrote "The Vagina Monologues" to discover how women felt about their bodies, parts of which are unpopular to call by name.

Maybe that unpopularity is why Ensler chose to run full-page ads in the Wildcat and other publications. These ads feature the scary word in a bold, black, sans-serif font. Maybe she's trying to draw attention to, or even gain acceptance of the word. Maybe she has a secret agenda to neutralize the fear involved in the use of body part names. If so, good for her.

Various campus entities offer opportunities for students to open their minds - something we should all strive for. They present ethnic dance performances, lecturers professing unpopular opinions and now "The Vagina Monologues," in all its splendid glory.

The speeches that comprise the performance are funny, touching, sad, angry and brimming with passion - by no means enjoyable for feminists or women alone. They tell stories of what it's like to be a girl and have a vagina. They discuss rape. They address the profound joy of childbirth.

The shows themselves have given birth to V-Day, an internationally recognized movement to stop violence against women.

The monologues give everyone a chance to evolve culturally into what most of us consider a major goal - equality.

One step toward the goal of equality - in this case, gender equality - is for society to accept the female body as it does the male body. Both women and men are uncomfortable with assertive references to female genitalia, and because of this, women are suppressed. Liberating the word will liberate the gender.

The show is a chance for men and women to gain enlightenment. Women might find an avenue to liberation, and men might see their stubborn ignorance of the female body.

And lastly, Loretta Swit, best known as Major Houlihan from "M*A*S*H," will appear in the second week of the show's Tucson tour. Who would want to miss that?

Tickets are still available for the popular performances, which run through Oct. 14 at Nations Hall in the International Arts Center. Call 621-3341 to purchase tickets.

It's a great time to rid society of misplaced stigmas. Help by seeing this show.