V-Day or P-Day?

Today is Valentine's Day, which on campus means V-Day--over 1,000 productions of The Vagina Monologues will be taking place across the nation to raise funds for battered women's shelters and other projects that fight violence against women. V-Day is popular and successful and feminist--it's even been produced in some Catholic colleges. So naturally the ladies over at the Independent Women's Forum hate it. Every year they go on a tear about how The Vagina Monologues is ruining romance and sending Cupid packing. "V-Day is not celebrated with flowers or chocolates," grouses IWF Director of Policy Carrie L. Lukas. "Young men do not pay graceful tribute to young ladies on V-Day."

What, no chocolate? This sounds serious! Something tells me the folks at Godiva and Hallmark aren't too worried.

For the IWF, feminists just can't get it right: when they're not ruining romance by being puritanical killjoys, they ruin it by being raunchy and gynecological. But V-day isn't the only organization with big plans for Valentine's Day. There's also the conservative Christian Liberty Counsel, which is promoting February 14th as an annual Day of Purity, "when this nation's youth can make a public demonstration of their commitment to remain sexually pure, in mind and actions." You can order Live Pure t-shirts and wristbands, just to let the whole world know you are not, not, not thinking about sex. One question: The website urges young people to see abstinence before marriage as "countercultural"--but, um, how does that fit with the official proclamation of the Day of Purity by the Governor of Ohio? Is he some kind of hippie sex hermit?

(For more on P-day, go to feministing.com)

Comments (5)

1. More pressingly, it's also International Quirkyalone Day [quirkyalone.net].

   I wonder if the quirkyalones fit into the Christian Liberty Council's vision of sexual purity...

   Posted by leftbehinds at 02/14/2006 @ 5:56pm

2. Look at the board of directors emeritae: Lynne V. Cheney Midge Decter Kimberly O. Dennis Wendy Lee Gramm Elizabeth Lurie Kate O'Beirne Louise V. Oliver

   Republicans all, keeping other women in their place.

   Posted by proudlib at 02/14/2006 @ 6:54pm

3. I hope things work out for the best.

   Posted by DelGoldfarb at 02/15/2006 @ 07:04am

4. vagina monologues? i've heard of this... i think when the average moderate to conservative person hears "vagina monologues", they dont need right wingers to tell them they dont like it...

   i'll google it and get informed and all and i'm a firm supporter of women's rights, but if u go call something "vagina monologues"...uh...well...your kinda inviting criticism regardless of content...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 02/15/2006 @ 09:43am

5. Look at the board of directors emeritae: Lynne V. Cheney Midge Decter Kimberly O. Dennis Wendy Lee Gramm Elizabeth Lurie Kate O'Beirne Louise V. Oliver

   Republicans all, keeping other women in their place.

   Posted by PROUDLIB 02/14/2006 @ 6:54pm

   Silly proudlib. These 'ladies' have 'hoo-hoo's. They don't want to be made aware of real womens vaginas. They've been ignoring their 'dirty parts' all their lives. Why would any 'lady' want to know anything about 'down there'?

   I mean, if GWB wouldn't know what to do with it, what good is it? (Except those brown wimmen, who smuggle stuff in theirs.)

   Now go wash your hands. And we'll have no more talk of 'vaginas' in this house, young man!

   Eric

   Posted by malcontent3 at 02/15/2006 @ 10:50am