You Can't Say That On Television

So- Jane Fonda and Eve Ensler were on the Today Show yesteday to promote the new staging of Ensler's play "The Vagina Monologues". Apparently, Jane Fonda got herself into some hot water when she said a "slang word" on tv. The c-word (oh-- I'm gonna say it--Cunt). Now, when I first read the headline "Jane Fonda apologizes for using swear on national television" I thought she must have dropped the f-bomb or something. Nope. Meredith Vieira asked her how she became involved in the project, and she replied that she had been asked to perform a monologue in the play entitled "C-nt". Camera pans to Vieira who looks shocked, horrified, and then giggles like a schoolgirl. After a commerical break, Vieira tells the audience that Jane Fonda apologizes for her mistake, and so does the Today show.

Bull**** Fonda apologized. What does she really have to apologize about? She wasn't using it against someone, as a swear, or with the intent to offend. She was simply explaining what the piece was entitled. Can't take a controversial word with your morning coffee? Put on your big girl pants and deal with it. I doubt there would be such an outcry if there was a play called "The Penis Monologues" and someone accidentally talked about their piece, entitled "Dick".

The thing that really gets me are the comments people are making around the controversy. "Well, that's what you get for having a segment on that kind of show (The Vagina Monologues)!"
While I might see the reasoning behind this-- Today knew Fonda would talk about her work-- I just don't see why people are so offended by this play's title. Since when did "Vagina" become a dirty word? From what I learned in health class, that's the correct name for it. For those who say the plays content is offensive I ask "Have you seen the play"? So much of it is not about purely sex, rather it's about why there is such a stigma around women and their vaginas, and the violence directed at women because we are thought to be "the weaker sex". Some say it's like porn. Please, go see the play, listen to the piece called "My Vagina Was My Village" and then tell me you think it's like porn. Please.

It's a body part. It's a slang word for that body part. Get over it.


P.S. I promise this blog isn't turning into a rant page, happy stuff is sure to come soon!