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‘Vagina Monologues’ to Debut in Armenia
“My Vagina Speaks Many Languages”—a title so shocking that it is bound to echo throughout the tiny former Soviet states of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. That’s precisely what some women’s rights organizations are aiming for by dubbing their cross-border project—featuring the powerful play, “The Vagina Monologues”—just that. Their aim is to stop violence against girls and women and to propel regional and domestic discussions on the issue, a topic that’s often deemed too taboo for public acknowledgement.
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Rapists Hanged by Virgins’ Hair
I see in my dreams
Rapists hanged by virgins’ hairs,
Powerful, springy hair that can never decay,
Colored fair, gold, brown, black, even grey.
Hanged by a female’s hair,
Slipping deep into their skin,
Throats, hands, fingers,
Reaching vessels, that are
Filled with blood, clothed in sins.
Hair that never cuts enough to bleed,
But still hurts deep
Until this date for saints to heed.
I hear them in my dreams
With echoing screams.
Pleading, calling God,
“Save us from the beasts.”
I see rapists in my dreams,
Want to remove the long hairs
Circling, lancing their tongues,
Their throats, like a sharp blade.
I see rapists in hell,
With the hair
Scimitaring their necks screaming,
“We admit our crimes”
But the hair courageously,
Remains firm
Never burns in the fiery blaze.
What I can see is in my dreams!
I yield horrible screams
Even to see them in my dreams!
The stories were narrated by Granny—in tears
Which still flow eternally as if it were today.
Sylva Portoian, MD
2007
__________________
The poem modified from Sylva’s Book
A Poetic Soul Shined of Genocides (2008)
ISBN: 978- 4363-5510-0
Using “pussy logic’ to elevate social awareness in certain human right issues might not be best way of achieving human rights objectives for all humans. It will certainly elevate interest in the organization and create a stream of revenue, 10% of which will be delivered to some charitable organization. The question Armenian women have to ask themselves, what will I learn from translated “pussy talk” which I cannot achieve by my active participation in the social and political process of my nation.
We all need to be aware of the experiences of ‘vaginas’ of many different nations. However, each of us has to find our way to resolve our women’s rights issues.
The Armenian women will most effectively achieve human rights and drastically reduce any type of violence by collectively volunteering to serve in the National Defense Forces, or talking to their priests, the last thing they need is a translated ‘vagina talk’. Even though the translations and the performances provide gainful employment to some people in Armenia, the meaningful change will only take place with active participation of Armenian woman in all endeavors of nation building.
I have nothing but praise for vaginas – but this is pure provocation in a conservative nation like Armenia. Vaginal rights need to be discussed/approached differently. Armenia is not yet ready for talking vaginas!
Just another example of the expansion of American cultural imperialism in Armenia and throughout the world.
Dumb and stupid, you can’t raise awareness of something by taking it on to an immoral level, this is a very cheap way, it is obvious that people with sexual sick fantasies are trying to hide their sexual problems with this kind of stuff, trying to make it seem as an honest fight against brutality, blah blah
When they zero in on a target, in this case vaginas, the end game is to undermine the social fabric of the nation and sow discontent. They always seek to target a nation’s weak spots: the ailing economy, minority rights, corruption, gay rights, police injustice, hazing in the military and now – the dreaded “G” spot. Had Armenia’s leadership been in bed with Washingtonian globalist criminals (instead of Russia), none of the above would have been an issue with the “freedom and democracy loving” politicians in Washington and Armenia’s leadership would have been the pretty darlings of the West.
It didn’t work when they helped Armenia’s enemies isolate the landlocked republic for years…
It didn’t work when their Levon Petrostein and his self-destructive peasantry took to the streets…
It didn’t work when they set up CIA front offices disguised as independent news media outlets, human rights advocates and NGOs…
It didn’t work when they sent in various “think tanks”, “opposition” figures and “political analysts”…
Now… they want to mess with our women’s vaginas!!!
Of all the stupid stunts, this takes the cake. This is a purely US born play and tailored for US audience who usually lacks any social and historical decorum. Armenians should be ashamed of themselves to allow this kind of trash in the name of social awareness. Now the Armenian population will learn about some vises that was not prolific in the society up to now. Illegal acts should be dealt with through the legal system and if the legal system does not work then it should be fixed. Fixing it through trashy and provocative plays is not the way. This play can only harm the society.
How many of those who criticize this project have actually seen it?
I’ll grant you that the topic can make some squeamish, but I think some here are being rather closed minded about the healing and empowering effect of women talking openly about all things female. I don’t believe there is anything to fear here; this play can’t corrupt a society.
If it offends you, don’t go to see it. If few go, it will soon close.
Svetlana is right that this play alone can’t empower women as much as their taking part in the social and political process of their nation. But this play may open some eyes to the inequity around them and perhaps this is a bit intimidating to those who would prefer to keep women in their place.
You know, art and discussion are much more powerful instruments of change than <talking with priests>, taking into account most of them seem to be corrupt lyers and sexists in Armenia.
I’m happy to read of such plans. Good luck with the project!
It’s so sad to see people who have clearly never seen this play jump to conclusions about it. Armenian women have just as much right as any women, anywhere, to raise awareness about their inequality and the violence done to them, and to empower themselves to overcome it. People speak of Armenia and Armenians as though they are too immature to hear the truth, too childlike to be exposed to real-world ideas. Grow up! If you are an adult, living in a country full of adults, then act like it. Criticizing everything that vaguely threatens the unjustly privileged position of men in Armenia is childish. If patriarchy is truly the better way to live, then it will stand up to scrutiny and critique. If, as I assume, it is on its way to the dustbin of history, then perhaps you had better educate yourselves about what might come next. And if you claim to care about Armenian society, start caring about the other 51% of it.