A landmark in women’s empowerment—as relevant as ever in the age of #MeToo—that honors female sexuality in all its complexity It’s been more than twenty years since Eve Ensler’s international sensation The Vagina Monologues gave birth to V-Day, the radical, global grassroots movement to end violence against women and girls. This special edition features six never-before-published monologues, a … never-before-published monologues, a new foreword by National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson, a new introduction by the author, and a new afterword by One Billion Rising director Monique Wilson on the stage phenomenon’s global impact. Witty and irreverent, compassionate and wise, this award-winning masterpiece gives voice to real women’s deepest fantasies, fears, anger, and pleasure, and calls for a world where all women are safe, equal, free, and alive in their bodies.
Praise for The Vagina Monologues
“Probably the most important piece of political theater of the last decade.”—The New York Times
“This play changed the world. Seeing it changed my soul. Performing in it changed my life. I am forever indebted to Eve Ensler and the transformative legacy of this play.”—Kerry Washington
“Spellbinding, funny, and almost unbearably moving . . . both a work of art and an incisive piece of cultural history, a poem and a polemic, a performance and a balm and a benediction.”—Variety
“Often wrenching, frequently riotous. . . . Ensler is an impassioned wit.”—Los Angeles Times
“Extraordinary . . . a compelling rhapsody of the female essence.”—Chicago Tribune
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I had missed this when it was written, and missed the numerous plays during the years. I expected a witty, light book about vaginas….but what I read was HEAVY, informative, and a book that NO ONE, female OR MALE should ever miss. We must all know that most women in EVERY society have been touched by rape, incest, harassment, mutilation, or SOME kind of shame about their vaginas. It doesn’t escape many of us, and if it has, it hasn’t escaped their loved ones. This books was definitely the precursor to the “Me Too” movement! Who could read this without heart tears for the many who were raped and murdered en masse as spoils of war over the eons, but also for the millions of young who have been raped by their fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, and others whom they may have trusted to care for them? It has never been a level playing field for girls and women, and though we have risen, we haven’t risen far enough. Thank you, Eve Ensler and for all those brave women and also men who have risen up and continue to do so. I’m one of you.
This is a book that everyone should read. It can be read in one sitting, but it is packed with a powerful message. Don’t let the title discourage you. It’s OK to talk about our vaginas. In fact, it’s imperative that we talk about our vaginas. Especially in this political climate. Educating ourselves and everyone else will lead to greater understanding and mutual respect.
This was a quick, easy but powerful read. I can’t imagine living in a time where you couldn’t even say vagina – it seems odd not even acknowledging a part of women’s anatomy especially since being a mother was expected of many women at that time.
I read the 2018 version with additional monologues and an afterword about the global movement it created (V-Day, one billion rising, etc). The monologues are still potent, poignant, evoke emotion, and make me want to band together with other women and continue the conversation. The afterword is a little dry but the ripple effect the book / play had is impressive. It was clearly a much needed catalyst for women to embrace their entire beings and recognize the parts of themselves (their vaginas, their sexuality) that had been until then been denigrated and ignored.
I didn’t care much for this book. I thought I would, but it was generally depressing to me.
Not like the original play. The political inferences were not called for. What do American politics have to do with third world womens right. Do we as Americans think that marchers in pussy hats and vagina outfits are really serious or do they think we have collectively lost our minds? We need to have womens rights represented in a more mature way.
Gross. Unreadable.
Took a turn to political right of the bat so I will not be reading it. There is enough of that garbage to watch on tv as it is. Just shut up and get on with life and real comedy already. Not everybody wants to read a bunch of pointless and redundant rhetoric