"The 'V' in V-Day stands
for Victory, Valentine and Vagina"
TAMU
V-Day
The
purpose of this organization is to provide programming, education, and
to raise money and awareness to stop all violence against women and
girls which includes but is not limited to: women's issues, domestic
and sexual violence, etc.
So what are we really doing?
Through programming
and events TAMU V-Day works to end violence against women.
Why?
Violence against
women is a large issue that gets swept aside in the "culture of
silence." One out of every three American women will be the victims
of some form of gender-based violence. Rape. Incest. Sexual abuse. Sex
Trafficking. Domestic violence (UNFPA, 2000). Women are being hurt.
The main mission of V-Day is simple, the violence must end.
The Global
V-Day Organization came about as an outgrowth of Eve Ensler's Obie
Award winning play, The Vagina Monologues.
The what Monologues?
The
Vagina Mologues is a collection of interviews woven
into stories from hundreds of women that Eve Ensler interviewed that
became an open celebration of female sexuality. Many of these women
brought out stories of rape, incest, genital mutilation, and domestic
violence. Many of their stories had never been reported. It was obvious that
something needed to be done.
How can we discuss the
issue of violence against women if we cannot discuss the place where is most
often occurs? The Global Aim is to empower women and men to dispel the shame
associated with the vagina so that everyone can speak openly about their experiences
and their bodies. The global V-Day movement arose from that desire,
to empower women.
In 2002, The Vagina
Monologues was performed in over 800 venues around the globe, including
Texas A&M University. All the proceeds went to charities that help
stop violence against women.
In five years
of being an organization at A&M, TAMU V-Day has raised over $29,000
for charities that work tirelessly to stop violence against women through
education, programs, shelters, etc. Past recipients include Texas A&M
University Women's Center Anti-Violence Programming and Education, the
Center for the Prevention of Rural Family Violence, and SAAFE House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Huntsville, Texas.
This isn't just at Texas A&M?
No, The Vagina Monologues
has been performed everywhere from Broadway and Madison Square Garden
to London's Old Vic, and on HBO. There has been a National Tour
and
every year there are productions of the Monologues all around the world.
There are also yearly productions on most college campuses by organizations
like TAMU V-Day. V-Day itself has raised millions of dollars for hundreds
of charities around the globe.
The Monologues
has had many all-star cast members including Oprah, Marisa Tomei,
Cynthia Nixon, Queen Latifah, Rosie Perez, Glenn Close, Melissa Joan
Hart, Claire Danes, Julia Stiles, Calista Flockhart, and many more.
So it's just the Vagina Monologues?
While it is an
important event for us, TAMU V-Day does more than the Vagina Monologues.
We strive to raise awareness in the local community about the issue of violence
against women and girls through education and events in the community and on campus and to reach out to those in the community who have been affected by domestic violence through service and programs. All
proceeds from every year are donated to a local charity that helps to end violence
against women.
TAMU V-Day has
no political orientation (other than encouraging members to vote) and
is neutral on the issue of abortion.
|
Part
of the national organization
