Female genitalia: They're something rarely mentioned. And when they are discussed, it's often in terms that some might find offensive.

"We were worried. We were worried about vaginas. We were worried about what we think about vaginas and even more worried that we don't think about them," Eve Ensler wrote in The Vagina Monologues, a play she wrote in 1996, which has become the focal point of a movement.

Hailey Apter will present Ensler's concerns and some possibly provoking synonyms for "vagina" to the audience of The Vagina Monologues at 8 tonight and tomorrow, and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday in Schwab Auditorium.

"I'm always nervous going on stage," Apter (freshman-communications and international politics) said. "Plus, my grandma's coming, so that's going to be a little weird."

Apter is one of the many women from Penn State and the State College community participating in the sixth annual local presentation of Ensler's Vagina Monologues, co-sponsored by the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) and Black Caucus.

"It's really more of an experience for women than acting," director Tiffanie Lewis (senior-journalism and psychology) said. "We want them to experience growing together, appreciating themselves and appreciating women -- not just getting on stage."

The process of bringing together women to present Ensler's compilation of facts, anecdotes and question-and-answer segments (Q: "If your vagina got dressed, what would it wear?" A: "A beret.") has been pretty smooth this year, with encouragement from around the community. Sexual assault, menstruation, pubic hair, orgasms, genital mutilation and the process of naming a vagina, in addition to myriad other women's issues, are touched upon in Ensler's comedic and dramatic play.

"Every year is different," Lewis said. "With the current atmosphere at Penn State, people are supportive of something that could bring a lot of light to the situation."

The performance of The Vagina Monologues is part of V-Day, a worldwide campaign to bring attention to women's issues and stop sexual violence. Play participants recognized that the publicity of sexual assaults in State College since August seems to have cemented the Monologues as an important educational tool for the community.

"Sexual assault is an issue here," Apter said. "It's one of the issues raised on campus, so it's important to bring this up. It's not just a lecture; it's also entertaining, and people enjoy coming to see it."

While this year's production of The Vagina Monologues has not faced the opposition it has in the past -- like when permission to hold auditions was revoked because of the sexual content of the play -- it has been parodied, in the form of the Outlaws' The Penis Monologues.

"Every day is a penis monologue. Why do we need a performance?" Lewis said. "Someone wouldn't make a spoof of the civil rights movement, and this focuses on a lot of serious issues too."

FMLA president Dominica Bowski (senior-English and women's studies) said The Penis Monologues is inappropriate because it detracts from the importance of V-Day for all women.

"The Vagina Monologues highlights women's experiences, and considering the society we live in, every day highlights men's experiences," Bowski said. "I don't see why they have to take this away from women."

Attendance of Ensler's play has consistently increased in the past three years. This year, tickets are available in advance and a matinee performance has been added to ease seating demands.

The audience is typically heterogeneous, composed of women, men, students, community members, faculty and staff, Bowski said.

"The response from audience members is usually, 'That's not what I was expecting.' It's a good response," Bowski said.