Actresses involved in “The Vagina Monologues” were attempting to give “Power to the Pussy,” as their shirts read, with a flash mob in the HUB-Robeson Center Thursday.
Becky Guldin, the show’s director, said the women were taking part in “The Vagina Monologues” author Eve Ensler’s “V-Day” movement, which occurs each Valentine’s Day and raises awareness for her global campaign against women’s violence called “One Billion Rising.”
“This is the day that she chose for women to pledge to dance and raise awareness,” Guldin (junior-public relations and women’s studies) said. “This is happening all over the world, not just at Penn State.”
Guldin said “The Vagina Monologues” are ordinarily performed on “V-Day,” but because of the start of THON today, the group decided to hold the performance a week later.
“The Vagina Monologues” performance is being held Friday, Feb. 22 and is sponsored by the Center for Women’s Studies.
“One in three women on the planet will be raped or beaten at some point in their lifetime –– this is unacceptable,” Amy Yarnall, a participator in the flash mob, said. “We’re trying to raise awareness to lower this number and hopefully one day get rid of it altogether.”
Guldin said she hoped the group’s signs stating that statistic would help viewers understand why the flash mob was occurring.
She said the shirts they were wearing, which read, “Power to the Pussy,” reflect the ability to be comfortable speaking about sexuality. She said the shirts are a keepsake for “The Vagina Monologues” event.
“We’re just hoping to have a fun public display to raise awareness of the cause but also our show,” Guldin said.
Yarnell (freshman-biology) said the group practiced beforehand to make sure that it looked its best.
“I wanted the dance to be spontaneous and fun,” Murphy Anderson, who choreographed the dance, said.
Guldin said that the dancers were hoping to have a fun public display to promote awareness of the event and cause but considered themselves activists first and performers second.
Caitlin Craig, a spectator, said she thought the flash mob was a great way to draw attention and raise awareness for the cause.
“I looked up and everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch the performance,” Craig (senior-Spanish and international politics) said.
Misrat Akinyele (sophomore-supply chain management) said she thinks that it’s great that people can come to the HUB and have support for their cause without judgment.
Murphy (senior-women’s studies and political science) said she hoped the performance added a bit of art and humor to promote a serious issue.
