Through the production of “The Vagina Monologues,” Iowa State is speaking up on the tough issues women face worldwide to help raise awareness and support.

“The Vagina Monologues” is held in conjunction with V-Day, which stands not only for Valentine, but for vagina and victory.

V-Day falls on Feb. 14. The day is held as a worldwide organized response against violence toward women, and it promotes the vision of a world in which women can live safely.

At Iowa State and across the globe, the holiday is celebrated with many events. One of the more popular is the production of “The Vagina Monologues.”

“The Vagina Monologues” is a play by Eve Ensler, a playwright, activist and founder of V-Day.

Ensler traveled the world listening to the stories of more than 200 women of various backgrounds and struggles. She then told these stories through “The Vagina Monologues.”

After the response to the show, Ensler and a group of women in New York created V-Day in 1998 with the hope of ending violence against women. According to V-Day.org, “We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.”

At Iowa State, “The Vagina Monologues” is put on by the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center and the Vagina Warriors, an on-campus group that increases awareness about violence against women.

Angela Hall, educational leadership and policy studies administrator at the Sloss House and president of the Vagina Warriors, said the event was “not just about terrible experiences, it’s about surviving and good experiences too.”

The play celebrates women’s strength and sexuality, and provides a voice to the experiences that are not easily talked about in today’s society.

The play began in 1996. Since then “The Vagina Monologues” has been performed for 14 years and in more than 120 countries and has been published in 45 languages.

The show features more than 18 skits, ranging in topic from a girl’s first period, rape, self discovery, sex and, naturally, vaginas.

Both humorous and heartbreaking, the skits show women both thriving and surviving through hardships. The show is meant to help and empower women.

The event at Iowa State raises both awareness and funds for a local and global women’s charity.

This year the event will donate to ACCESS — Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support — in Ames. ACCESS is not only a rape crisis center but a shelter for domestic violence victims and their families.

But for V-Day and “The Vagina Monologues,” it’s not about the funds as much as raising awareness on campus and worldwide.

”It’s not about money or the resources; it’s about why do we need to have these resources today,” Hall said.

Those involved with “The Vagina Monologues” hope to inspire activism within communities, to help stop violence against women and help women realize they have a voice.

”Be a voice; dialogue is crucial,” Hall said. “Unless awareness is there, violence will keep happening. Something must happen to have the mindset to take action.”

This is the fifth year the play has been performed at Iowa State.

In addition to Thursday’s performance, there will be two showings Friday. One is at 6:30 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. at the Maintenance Shop. [disconnect between the show taking place on February 14 but it’s in November now?]

The cost is $12 for students and $15 for the general public. All proceeds go to ACCESS and the Women of Democratic Republic of Congo.