vdayBarnard-Columbia V-Day, the group that organizes an annual production of The Vagina Monologues on campus, has decided that the cast for this year’s production will be made up of the stories of self-identified women of color.

The announcement was accompanied by a statement which explained the ideas of allyship and empowerment which shaped the decision:

The intention behind an all women of color cast is to center traditionally marginalized identities within the feminist community, creating a space in which the voices, stories, and experiences of women of color can be heard, acknowledged, and addressed… We hope that an all women of color cast of The Vagina Monologues will continue a serious dialogue on campus regarding the shortcomings of mainstream Western feminism.

The full statement can be read on the Facebook page for the auditions. Auditions, for self-identified women of color only, are Wednesday October 8th from 8:00 – 11:00 pm.

Does this decision represent admirable allyship or a regrettable exclusion? Let us know what you think in the comments.