“What to Do When a Politician Tries to Fall into Your Vagina Feet First”

Hi all,

This weeks exercise encourages us to write about something political.  I just came across this slam performance by Theresa Davis.  The piece is protesting the governments hand in women’s rights.  I have listened to it at least 5 times now; it’s so powerful and important.

Some of my favorite lines:

“If I had wanted you down there, you would have been invited.”

“If your god really wanted you in my pants he’d have made you me.”

“The day another human being falls from your body like grace, that’s the day you get to walk in my shoes.”

Please watch and let me know what you think.

-Ari

 

2 Replies to ““What to Do When a Politician Tries to Fall into Your Vagina Feet First””

  1. To begin with Davis’ final line: SHUT THAT SHIT DOWN

    I love this for all of the obvious reasons like body autonomy and basic human rights. What really caught me was how Davis plays with sound:

    my body is not yours to lobby

    no room in my womb

    DIC-tate

    I love how Davis uses appropriate, topic-related language and I especially appreciate her use of internal rhyme, which I try to use whenever I can. Also, she emphasizes that first syllable in “dictate” to call upon some body parts that do a lot of commanding. Cool double entendre there.

    One of the most memorable quotes stuck in my brain from SNL is Nasim Pedrad’s line from a Weekend Update: “If men could get pregnant, abortion clinics would be like a Starbucks. There would be two in every block and four in every airport, and the morning after pill would come in different flavors like sea salt and cool ranch.” I address this issue with humor, but millions of women and I are aware of the pain and frustration inherent in these endless conversations, controlled by men with absolutely no stake nor respect of the female person. It’s not always a pleasant source to visit, but politics are inspiring. Thanks for sharing Ari, I’ve already sent this to a few friends!

  2. This was such a great piece, I loved her passionate delivery and the blatant sarcasm. Like Allison said, the sounds she used were great. It reminded me a lot of Dominique Christina’s “The Period Poem,” which I will never get enough of. Both her and Davis deal with the flawed logic of needing permission from men to express and claim authority over their own biology. The very fact that these women have to make these statements is outrageous, but I’m so thankful and impressed by the messages they send out into the world, defiant and wonderfully unapologetic. Especially in this political climate, here and elsewhere in the world, women carrying these messages to all types of platforms is not only amazing, but needed.

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