The Little Coochi Snorcher that Could

It’s that time of year again–The Vagina Monologues! As you may know, my brother has taken an interest in feminism as I said here and here.

Last night my brother went with his girlfriend to see his college’s production of the Vagina Monologues. They both really enjoyed it–their favorite monologue was the Angry Vagina. My brother remarked that he thought it was an important play for women to see—but it was even MORE important for men to see. I asked him why he thought this and he said that guys might not know how women feel about their bodies–how they have different feelings.

However, my brother did have one criticism and I bet you can imagine what that was–the monologue called “The Little Coochi Snorcher that Could.” In that monologue a young girl has sex with an older woman. Now, my brother said he didn’t have a problem with the whole exploration aspect, but he was bothered by the age disparity and that the young girl was given alcohol. (I’ve always had a problem with the “I get to wear a sexy teddy” part of the story myself) He felt that if the older woman had been a man instead of a woman, feminists would feel differently about the monologue.

I told my brother that many people feel the same way he does; however, I added that other people would claim that there is something different about a sexual relationship between two women.

But what do you think? Do you think this monologue reveals a double standard? Do you think it should be omitted when The Monologues are performed? Or is this monologue integral to the larger story about vaginas and violence against women?