A week after the performance of "The Vagina Monologues" on campus, female faculty and staff members put their own spin on the subject. The "Real Life Vagina Monologues," held last Wednesday in the Polaris Lounge in North Quad by the Brandeis University Vagina Club, was part of the group's annual weeklong "VaginaFest" celebration.

The event took place over chicken fried rice, pad thai and vagina-shaped cookies, and featured Michelle O'Malley, director of orientation and first-year programs; Prof. Ellen Wright (PSYC); Marci McPhee, associate director of the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life; and Director of Student Activities Stephanie Grimes.

Shana Lebowitz '10, who organized the talk, read from a list of questions about femininity, motherhood and vaginas.

She began the discussion by asking the speakers what sort of clothing their vaginas would wear. Responses ranged from McPhee's answer that her vagina already wears underwear; to O'Malley, who said that since her daughters are princesses, hers would wear a jeweled crown; to Wright, who said that naming and personifying one's genitals is really more of a masculine concept.

The discussion took a serious turn when it switched to the views of the panelists' families on sexuality when they were growing up. The different backgrounds of the four speakers provided a variety of stories.

O'Malley, who comes from a Catholic home, discussed how her mother never talked about sex and would not even use the word vagina.

"She bought the books, put them on the shelf and expected me to read them," she said. The parents of the other panelists were more open.

"Sexuality is not just having sex but who you are embodied as a female," Wright said.

The discussion went from motherhood to giving birth to how being a mother affects the woman's professional life.

Labor is the "most painful thing ever in the entire world, so don't let anyone tell you differently," O'Malley said. "Take the drugs as early as possible," she advised.

The others concurred, but agreed that it was worth it.

As for the effect motherhood has on their professional lives, Grimes said that fortunately, there are many of female employees at Brandeis, and the University is very understanding of the needs of women.

McPhee, who gave birth to her oldest son two days after her last undergraduate final exam, was the only one at the table who has chosen to become a stay-at-home mom. She said that to her, feminism is the right to choose whatever path is right, and her dream was to be a mother.

The discussion picked up when Lebowitz asked the speakers what their thoughts were on premarital sex.

The question was greeted with a shout of "Yes!" from Wright.

Grimes agreed. "Sex is an important part of a relationship," she said, "And if you don't know how someone is going to handle sex, and you want to spend the rest of your life with him, it can be awkward. I want to know if he will change the toilet paper, take the trash out and how he is in bed."

McPhee, who waited until marriage, offered a different perspective. "Sex is about that commitment and about more than just having fun. . There is nothing hotter than two virgins discovering each other and themselves on their wedding night," she said.

McPhee told the audience the story of how her friend lost her virginity to a rapist. For everyone who has a good first experience someone else has a bad one, she said.

Editor's note: Shana Lebowitz is the Features editor of the Justice.