Opinion
How the Femme Monologues spoke to me
By Eva Lynch-Comer ’19
February 18, 2016
Tags opinion
This past Sunday on Valentine’s Day, the Womyn’s Center hosted their second annual Femme Monologues. When I first heard of this event, I immediately knew I wanted to go, but I was a little reluctant. What if I couldn’t relate to any of the monologues? Many of the monologues I’ve seen in the past have come off as more of a performance and not genuine enough for me to feel something. I wanted to connect with the womyn performing and I really hoped that I could. So, although I had my reservations, I went to the Femme Monologues anyway and I was not disappointed.
When I walked into the Events Barn, I could hear the Destiny’s Child’s song, “Girl,” blasting from speakers. Already, I could feel a sense of camaraderie with the womyn who would be performing monologues that night. They all wore pink feathery boas, black outfits and smiles of welcome. I was pleasantly surprised to find that many of my friends were also at the event. I took a seat and prepared to listen to the monologues, written and performed by the womyn of Hamilton College.
As soon as the womyn started performing, I found that I could relate to many of the monologues. They covered a vast range of topics from sex, sexuality, catcalling, body image and self-esteem to gender identity, friendships, awkward moments and restricting gender norms. One monologue that particularly resonated with me was “Be Safe, Be Happy,” performed by Caroline Kreidberg ’17, which centered around sexuality. Often, we hear labels attributed to womyn with regards to sex, in which they will be labeled a “prude” for choosing not to engage in sexual activities or a “slut” for being openly sexually active. This monologue emphasized the importance of womyn having a choice in their activities. We should be able to choose to do whatever we want to do with their bodies without judgement. The most important thing is that we remain safe and happy. As a Black womyn, I personally identified with the monologue “Natural Hair,” performed by Janika Beatty ’17, which discussed the pressure Black womyn face to modify their hair to fit into Eurocentric standards, and stated that regardless of this pressure, we should take pride our hair and appreciate its natural state.
Another monologue that I think demonstrated a lot of bravery on the part of the performer was “Lost,” performed by Ryn Winner ’19. Winner discussed their experience identifying as a person outside of the gender binary and their rejection of masculine pronouns. While sexuality is often talked about in American society, I have found that people are more hesitant to discuss gender identity. This society loves to shove labels onto people, and it can be hard to navigate the world when you don’t fit into a societally acceptable mold, so I found this piece to be particularly poignant.
While some pieces covered more serious topics, others used sarcasm to express their point, such as the monologue, “No Men, No Drama,” performed by Sophie Gaulkin ’17. Gaulkin presented the author’s experience as a person with only friends who were girls, not because she hates men, but because she just gets along better with other girls. Another piece, entitled “A Better Summer Body in Just 15 Easy Steps” and performed by KT Glusac ’17 outlined steps, in the style of a How-To Guide, of how to get in shape for the summer. But the monologue clearly showed the unhealthy ways in which people sometimes attempt to lose weight. In the end, all we see is the end result; we do not see the sometimes unhealthy methods one may take to attain a “beautiful” body. Other pieces explored the pain that can come with being in an abusive relationship, the objectification of women’s bodies, the awkwardness that comes with “the sex talk” and the strength it takes to love oneself.
As these womyn spoke their truths, I could tell it came from a raw and real place. It was not a theatrical performance, but a re-telling of a real part of their lives. I admired their ability to deliver these monologues with vulnerability and genuine honesty. People sat in the audience nodding their heads and snapping their fingers in assent. The environment was very inclusive and accepting, and I could feel a strong sense of community. I found that I could connect with each of the performers, and it felt good to know that I wasn’t alone in my experiences of awkwardness and pain, in my doubts, my hopes and my aspirations. I was so proud of my fellow students who were brave enough to go on stage and perform. The monologues provided a way for us empathize with each other’s experiences and unite in our shared humanity.