The Vagina Monologues is an episodic play written by Eve Ensler which developed and premiered in New York and was followed by an Off-Broadway run in 1996 at Westside Theatre. The Vagina Monologues is made up of various personal monologues read by a diverse group of women. Each of the monologues deals with an aspect of the feminine experience, touching on matters such as sex, sex work, body image, love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the various common names for the vagina or simply as a physical aspect of the body. A recurring theme throughout the piece is the vagina as a tool of female empowerment, and the ultimate embodiment of individuality.
