It is not everyday that people in the Midwest sit around and discuss female sexuality. Next week, students and staff will perform The Vagina Monologues bringing a new perspective on female issues to Missouri Southern.

The aim is to bring awareness about violence against women. The topics are not typical dinner conversation: love, sex, rape, incest and female genital mutilation.

They are topics for mature audiences. The Chart hopes Southern can live up to that description, and we applaud the efforts of the Advising, Counseling and Testing Services in bringing the production to Southern.

The 10-year anniversary of V-Day comes with a special celebrity production of The Vagina Monologues in April.

Awareness is the first step in action. Breaking the taboo of discussing women’s sexual experiences the Vagina Monologues will bring both the humor and pain of life hidden inside.

The Vagina Monologues themselves are based on the experiences of real women around the world. Each brings a different actor, a different aspect and a different theme to which to respond.

In this laundry list of things we don’t talk about, we hope people find the courage to understand a broader perspective.