Ms. Vagina

           

            She often wonders how her perception of women would've been, had she been born a few centuries earlier, or a few hundred years forward. "She would have been, in the first place, dark like Lady Bexborough, with a skin of crumpled leather and beautiful eyes."(7MD) That would really make her stand out, and be different.  In reality though, Ms. Vagina is happy that she is living in this 21st century, the here and now; this century that is full of innovations, life, and color and relative freedom.  She is lucky to be European, lucky enough to choose whom she wants to marry and not be forced into an arranged one.  In the old days, most women were just mothers and wives and did the basic house chores.  Their judgment was not taken into account.  Their education was neglected and they were taught from a young age that they need to give undivided attention and serve those around them, and then they will be rewarded with a "good" man; meaning a husband.  After acquiring the husband, they would've had reached their goal. Some like Miss Havisham in the novel 'Great Expectation' by Charles Dickens couldn't start their life again after being rejected by the suitor.  She sat around in her old age still dressed in the bridal gown waiting and waiting and waiting.  Ms. Vagina is different, she doesn't need a man; she would like one in her life to share her joys and to also take away some of her loneliness, but she doesn't need one; her survival doesn't depend on her having a permanent man beside her. She passes by Daunt bookshop on Marylebone high street and smiles to herself.  She sees various books displayed in the window from different authors, all relating to women; from past 'A vindication Of the Rights of Woman', to the recent ' The Vagina Monologues'.  Ms. Vagina is pleased to see the world slowly changing around her; books are being written by women for women.  Literature finally stressing the importance of women voicing their thoughts, their expectations, and their needs. As she looks at the display with sheer pride, she acknowledges the academic gap between men and women getting smaller; women’s intellect is gaining power, their minds sharpened; thanks to education, and a small minority of men.  For a fraction of a second she questions in her mind the saying, "it's a man's world".  She immediately realizes that the battle is not over, and the show must go on. Women like her all over the world have to still establish their firm position in life based on their principles, virtues and ethics; not on their beauty.  

            Ms. Vagina insists on being called 'Ms.', as she never wants anyone to know whether she is married or single. "I know what I don't want to become."(5J). She is beautiful in her own way.  Her complexion is like an "English rose", she even smells like one; but she doesn't dress like one.  Ms. vagina doesn't want to give things away; she will say only what she wants you to know, but she doesn't allow acquaintances to delve into her privacy.  She dresses conservatively because she doesn't want to be judged by the way she looks; she wants men to listen to her and not be distracted by her beautiful cleavage.  So yes, she might be financially independent, but she is not free to wear what she wants and say what she wants when she wants.  If Ms. Vagina did that, she will be scorned, judged by her peers and society as whole.  She has worked hard to avoid oppression at home, and even harder at keeping her soul intact.  It is not an easy matter integrating your believes and principles with the necessities of such a fast moving world.  Ms.vagina always remembers her mother's advise, which she never really took notice of.  What does her mother know of what she really wants?  Conversation with her mother was always like a "psychodrama" class. (124TBM) Should she feel shame that she wasn't able to fit into society the way her mother wanted her to?  Ms. Vagina shakes her head disapprovingly.  Of course, she is her own person, her own self; she will not be a slave to any man, not even her father.   Even if she were to listen to her mother for an instance, she would be leading her to the most expensive plastic surgeons on Harley Street; She hisses in an almost audible voice, that there is nothing wrong with slight imperfections.  She knows that "women are being 'eroded' by 'lifestyle variations'."(115TBM) Why can't her mum understand that? Why can't her friends and colleagues understand that? It's not just holding out on to your individuality, it's holding on to your self.  It takes a strong character not be pulled in with the tide; to be a slave to fashion and be botoxed at every occasion.  She doesn't want to grow old alone but she doesn't want to succumb to what they call this "beauty myth".  What would great writers like Margaret Atwood, or Virginia Woolf make of her life?  She smiles again at the thought; at the scene when she told her parents that she was changing her name from Ms. Smith to Ms. Vagina.  Her mother kept wringing her hands together as if she was" washing her hands" from her daughter; very much like Lady MaCbeth and her obsession with washing the blood away. "Out, damned spot! Out I say!".  Out, Out damned daughter, Out I say.  Her mother, however, remained calm, like is expected of a lady.  Her dad took the decision to disown her.  He couldn't see why his daughter wanted a name change; didn't understand the decision.  She didn't understand why they didn't understand; "I can't bear it, to have been erased like that."(240THT).  When she didn't budge from her decision to name herself Ms. Vagina, "her father was no longer looking at her.  In his eyes she had become a used, finished woman." (99TVM) Ms. Vagina didn't really want to upset her father, but she wanted to give her vagina an identity. "If your vagina could talk, what would it say, in two words." (19TVM) She knows what hers would say.