Vagina Honors

Ebony Bones, Razor Stiletto 2007. Photo by Jacqui Bellamy

"A Vagina Warrior? What's that?" you may ask. The term "warrior" may seem an odd one to associate with anti-violence work. Yet in feminist reclaiming of the word, it's often used with confidence, pride, celebration, empowerment… Wonder Woman is a warrior figure. We hear of warrior women in the media. And I call so many women I know "vagina warriors."

V-Day originated the term "vagina warrior" with its 2004 theme "Celebrating Vagina Warriors":

Since V-Day launched its very first event in 1998, the movement has encountered incredible women working to end violence against women and girls in their communities. These women have often experienced violence personally or witnessed it within their communities and dedicated themselves toward ending such violence through effective, grassroots means. They have been the very heart of V-Day since it was conceived as a worldwide movement to empower and enable local activists to raise awareness and funds locally through V-Day benefit productions of The Vagina Monologues.

Each year, V-Day productions worldwide name Vagina Warriors in their community. In my own community, our Vagina Warriors are chosen each year by the women in the cast - nominated and voted on by each and every woman. They are women who inspire us, who motivate us, and empower us. They have been friends, role models, and mentors. Each year I am overwhelmed by the many nominations for Vagina Warriors that come in, and wish that we could award it to each and every woman nominated. We have had recipients of Canada's Person's Award and the Order of Canada, labor activists, sexual harassment advisors, crisis centre organizers, and students' union activists. This year's nominees included a yoga instructor, a women's studies professor, an Ox-fam activist, and a policy maker.

And so I felt humbled, shocked, and overwhelmed when my own cast nominated and named me to join such an amazing group of women and men to become a Vagina Warrior this year. I was joined by two amazing women this year - an activist who tells her own story of personal violence to inspire others and to make changes to laws around violence; and a physician who has focused on campaigning for pap smears and reductions of cervical cancer. I am honored to be included amongst such inspiring women.

Says Eve Ensler:

In every community there are humble activists working every day, beat by beat, to undo suffering. They sit by hospital beds, pass new laws, chant taboo words, write proposals, beg for money, demonstrate and hold vigils in the streets. Every woman has a warrior inside waiting to be born. In order to guarantee a world without violence, in a time of danger and escalating madness, we urge them to come out.

This is why I was so humbled.

As Eve says, "Every woman has a warrior inside waiting to be born." I may have been recognized to be a Vagina Warrior, but I am inspired each and every day by women and men around me that do amazing, unrecognized work. Sometimes it's on an individual level - one on one counseling, peer support, or simple friendship. Sometimes it's on a grander scale - organizing a pro-choice campaign, a march, or a letter-writing campaign. Sometimes it's quiet and simple - speaking up as the only woman in a room full of male administrators and politicians, saying something about a sexist or racist joke. But all of these women and men have been my own vagina warriors, and see no recognition day in and day out.

Each of us have Vagina Warriors in our lives. And so many of us are a Vagina Warrior already, or have the capacity to become one. This year, make a point of honoring the Vagina Warrior in your life. Make a point of becoming a Vagina Warrior. It's in all of us; we just have to take a stand.

"Speech, Speech, Speech!"

Deluka, Razor Stiletto 2007. Photo by Jacqui Bellamy

I could spout off statistics, but we've all heard them before.I could easily cite the many instances of inequality and the guise that we've already got it - but we all know about Harper's cuts and experience day-to-day attacks.

What it all comes down to is why I do it. Why I fight, despite how hard it is, despite that it feels never-ending.

I started my journey a number of years ago now, and no matter where that journey may take me - I see violence. I saw it in British Columbia when Gordon Campbell cut all funding to women's centres. I saw it in the many missing and murdered women of Vancouver that for years, the RCMP ignored. And then I moved to St. John's, where I saw every single day - not in the media, not in the politics, but in the faces and stories of the women I met.

And so I started activisting, feministing, and writing about violence in all its forms - eating disorders, women-blaming, governmental cuts, predjudice, and sexism. But more than writing, I started to listen.

I am constantly in a state of awe when I listen to women tell their stories - not in awe of all the violence that's happening, but that they are able to talk about it. To tell their story. Women who have never performed before, never stood on a stage, come to The Vagina Monologues and during the course of the show, open themselves up to talking about their experiences. To me, to another woman in the show - to someone. Sometimes for the very first time. It's the same with safe spaces such as The Women's Resource Center, a crisis phone line, or a shelter. Sometimes it's in a more public space that we first hear a story - at this year's December 6th vigil, after the vigil, an amazing incredible woman talked about a personal experience of sexual harassment. Maybe we can't change the scope of violence across the world all in one day, but we can change how one person thinks about it when we find the courage to tell our stories.

Every single day that I meet someone, who tells me their story, who has the courage to tell their story - it puts a face to this huge, all-encompassing issue of violence we hear about. It's someone I know - and it's so many people I know. It's my friends, my coworkers, volunteers I know, colleagues I've met, my stepmother, my grandmother, my aunt, my sisters, and myself.

How can I not fight?

I'm only a Vagina Warrior because of the many vagina warriors who inspire and motivate me - it's for them, and for their courage to tell their stories - whether for the very first time ever, or for the hundredth time - that we all have to keep fighting.

Comments (1)

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Bernice said:

Leisha, again congrats on your award this year. You truly are an amazing women, and you stand by everything you say and believe in. I was at the V-Day bash and saw you accept your award and heard your speech...and how nice it was to read your speech again that time. It was just Like i was sitting there listening to you read it aloud. YOu touched me with your words, and your strength and your passion to fight for women rights. I wish you all the best, as you deserve the best! Keep smiling in sisterhood Bern

May 02, 2008

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