A&E
Femme speakers promote social change through personal monologues
By Ghada Emish ’19
February 18, 2016
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Femme was not the typical love-charged performance on Valentine’s Day. The show was a candid and passionate expression of women’s concerns that was more confrontational than condescending, evoking a strong sense of actualizing change in society rather than skewing one’s beliefs and goals to fit with the majority.
Femme, organized by the Womyn’s Center, primarily aimed at strengthening empathy for women, urging them to protect women’s rights and respect the various sexual identities. For long enough, radically corrupted beliefs about sexuality have caused the discomfort and humiliation of women. New findings are expanding the psychological understanding of sexuality and shattering the darkness people were immersed in. This motivates us, as students, to embrace what Femme offered in this show, and what the Womyn’s center organizes regularly, as a comprehensive social movement.
Femme was a heartening show that simultaneously moved the crowd and cracked them up. In 17 monologues, Femme covered a wide variety of topics with which women have been struggling, mostly focusing on the pressure young women experience during their transition to adult life.
Unfortunately, women with mental health issues are usually judged as being uninteresting, and are then blamed for not actively dating or having sex. In “Be Safe, Be Happy,” Caroline Kreidberg ’17 described this judgment in the voice of a girl with depression and anxiety by saying that she is “too busy having panic attacks to get wet and wild.” Instead of showing support to women with such issues, society tends to discriminate against them for not showing vigor, which restricts their potential in life. Kreidberg said ironically, “by thirty I’ll be dried up and boring.” Although a joke, this phrase highlights a fear that society imposes on women with mental health issues.
“I Do Not Want to Wear a Purse,” written by Kyandreia Jones ’19, addressed women who are not interested in following fashion trends like heels and purses. “I’ve worn sneakers to every special occasion,” said performer Polly Bruce ’17, expressing an attitude criticized as dramatic, although it is mostly a form of reconciliation with oneself.
Some tend to pretend that they are happy doing what they are not necessarily comfortable doing, even though it does not help them achieve their potential on a personal level, and it is society that makes this attitude seem acceptable, although it is essentially subversive.
“I still bleed from the only purse that matters,” said Bruce in a sarcastic manner following her protest against the strong emphasis on women wearing purses as if this determines their identity. Bruce ended her performance by asserting that if pants were designed with bigger pockets, women would not feel forced to wear purses in case they did not want to, not that women should be forced to wear purses for lack of convenient pockets.
“Woman,” written and performed by Emma Reynolds ’17, expressed the male-dominated environment that girls experience growing up. Reynolds promptly leaped into the heart of the matter by citing instructions that girls hear throughout their lives from grownups about their expected, socially accepted behavior. Scarcely reading from her script, Reynolds wore a stern face and her voice bore a dictating, heavy tone. Reynolds embodied society’s dominating attitude toward raising young women, she significantly demonstrated this attitude in her way of articulating the words: “Do. Not. Finish.” referring to being one of the lessons on meals taught to a woman when she starts seeing men. Woman also highlighted the fact that any objection on behalf of young women about the flawed values they are taught is clearly not welcomed because it questions years of inconsequential beliefs and actions.
Even before the show began, the atmosphere was energized. The performers are dressed in black with feathery bright pink scarves that are adorned with silver strips. The Womyn’s Center also prepared brochures for Femme that had pictures of women activists from around the world throughout history, giving the show a powerful context that ties the past with the present in women’s longstanding struggle with fighting stereotypical thought and finding their sought position in society. On each seat in the Events Barn there was a pouch with the phrase “Planned Parenthood” printed on it. The pouch contained condoms and skin lubricants, all emphasizing Femme’s message of liberal choices in life. The show was directed by the performers themselves.
I wish Femme would have run more times so that more people could have found suitable times to watch it. It would also have been interesting to include an account of what inspired the tradition of doing the monologues by the Womyn’s Center and what differentiates this year’s show from any previous ones.
Femme demonstrated strong evidence that artistic expression is quite powerful in supporting social change and highlighting its necessity. Scheduling the show on Valentine’s Day certainly challenges the stereotypical concepts attached to this celebration. Femme mostly condemns the fact that the issues women struggle with are not spoken of loudly or frequently enough, making them quite dangerous, since unless those topics are discussed, change will never take place effectively. The Hamilton community motivates people to express themselves honestly and to be themselves, because only then do people genuinely feel content enough to do brilliant things in their lives and navigate the world freely.
Femme was an open invitation for people to shatter stereotypical thought and express themselves authentically. Uncensored expression urges people to question any beliefs that they grew up with, especially on a college campus where people from various backgrounds and nationalities meet. Granted, Hamilton is not greatly diverse, but people should think about the beliefs they have never questioned, as well as evaluate their unconscious actions.