The Pixel Project VAW e-News Digest: Edition 6

Welcome to the 6th edition of The Pixel Project’s VAW e-News Digest! As usual, we bring you the latest and most relevant news concerning the global project of eliminating Violence Against Women (VAW) in the past fortnight.

F0r many people, February 14^th marks Valentine’s Day. It’s also the date for V-Day, a date set by Eve Ensler of The Vagina Monologues fame to recall and remember the level of violence against women, in particular sexual violence against women.

Not everyone feels comfortable with Ensler, and the controversy surroundin her statements have been highlighted by many parties, including feminists. However, regardless of one’s feelings about Ensler’s brand of highly-charged, emotionally raw, and in-your-face form of feminism, what cannot be denied is that with plays such as The Vagina Monologues and the celebration of V-Day – the day during which violence against women is given a second look and is celebrated simultaneously on Valentine’s Day – is that it keeps people talking and keeps VAW in the spotlight.

This is something which is extremely necessary because news from around the world still reveals that there’s a high level of tolerance and justification for VAW. We shouldn’t be too surprised that many people in developing countries accept violence against women as a matter of norm, when an overwhelming number of schoolchildren in the United Kingdom feel that violence against women is sometimes justified, and that a majority of British women blame the victim for rape.

So this edition of The Pixel Project’s VAW e-News Digest is specially dedicated to The Vagina Monologues, V-Day, as well as the performance of and reaction to the play around the world — part of a global step around the world, across theatre halls and educational institutions, towards confronting and ending violence against women.

Think about the ways you can help to prevent, stop and end VAW. Small gestures can mean a great deal. You can send any news concerning violence against women that you wish to see in forthcoming editions of The Pixel Project VAW e-Newsletter to our archivist, Catalina Rembuyan, at catalina@thepixelproject.net.

In the meantime, do enjoy our 6th e-Newsletter and do feel free to share it around! If you prefer to get breaking VAW news from us in real time, please follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/PixelProject).

The Pixel Project – It’s time to stop violence against women. Together.

With best regards,

The Pixel Project team

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Special Focus on V-Day and The Vagina Monologues

The monologues will make you uncomfortable in a good way – Connecticut College.

Vagina Monologues pledge to end abuse – Bloomington, Indiana.

Vagina Monologues is a thought-provoking comedy: Eastern Michigan University.

Bajingos, hoohas and more: Maine – ‘men laugh the hardest’.

Centre Against Sexual Assault hopes that Vagina Monologues to address female sexuality and sexual violence against women.

University of Toledo celebrates V-Week.

A cast member speaks about her experience acting in The Vagina Monologues.