You certainly got my attention

Regarding the Vday campaign and Vagina Monologues, as a member of the particular gender, I am in awe of strong, intelligent, and courageous women. I am therefore confused with my own reaction to the section in Saipan Tribune’s March 30, 2006, issue in the Life and Style section on page 18. The section details t-shirts being sold for a very worthy cause. These particular t-shirts being printed have the words “vagina” and a c-word (referring to the same body part) on them in an attempt (I assume) to get attention. I’m all for raising awareness for women’s issues (including violence against women and children). But at the risk of sounding extremely outdated, I wonder if these t-shirts being sold to raise awareness for these issues don’t undermine our goals a bit. I believe women have other mentionable (ahem) assets (for lack of a better word) than their bodies. Why must raising awareness aimed at respecting females have to hinge on the “vagina” or “c*#%”? By the way, I know “vagina” is a medical term, but is it appropriate? Isn’t a woman’s intelligence, thoughtfulness, and/or worthwhile contributions just as or (dare I say it) more important than her physical body parts? What message are we trying to send anyway? Also, can newspapers publish that?! Is this the only way we can get attention to injustices against our gender? Yes, you got my attention.

Although the effort and courage shown by our local women to promote this cause fills me with hope and admiration, the particular words used to do so do not. Perhaps this 28-year-old is a bit behind the times in this particular matter. I certainly mean no disrespect against the cause or to the committee head for the merchandise. Miss Reina Camacho is an active and respectable citizen whom I’ve had the privilege of meeting in the past. Domestic abuse and violence against women and children may not be our tradition, but neither is using these particular words in public.

Ellen Jeanne Rayphand
Saipan