“If it could speak what would it say?” “It would say words that begin with ‘V’ and ‘T’- ‘turtle’ and ‘violin’ are examples.”
In this monologue Ensler asks a six year old girl about her vagina. Her responses are filled with a youthful innocence coupled with a carefree attitude towards the world around her. I found it refreshing to hear from such a young person whom has not yet been corrupted by the hazards of the world we all live in. Does this little girl understand just what women are facing in the real world? No. Better yet, can she fathom being oppressed in such a world, or becoming a victim of the violence described in the other monologues? Not likely.
It is because of her blissful and innocent outlook on life that Ensler decided to include an interview with a six year old in her book. This monologue provides a window to the goodness of human nature that at one time or another existed within us all, criminals and victims alike.
“What does your vagina smell like?” “Snowflakes.”
This child’s answers to Ensler’s questions have no basis in the calculated logic of the adult world. Instead, her answers have basis in mere whims of pleasantry that exist in her young consciousness. While her innocence will eventually fall to the corruption that infects all members of our society, perhaps there is still hope that this child and others like her may inherit a world less prone to violence and discrimination towards women.
If Ensler’s mission inspires some significant degree of societal change perhaps it is possible that our children will reject the physical, financial, and emotional oppression of women because those who read her book told their friends and raised their children to view women as equals rather than objects for male enjoyment. It is important for the future women of the world to recall snowflakes, turtles, and violins when looking back on their childhood rather than genital mutilation, rape, and other forms of abuse which have no place in the lives of children.
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