Posted on 08/22/2005 10:37:38 AM PDT by andyk
BOISE -
They might taste good, but some BSU students think the vagina-shaped, white chocolate candy that the school's women's center is distributing is in poor taste. "That's almost to the point of being degrading to a woman's body in my opinion," says business student Vicki Johnson.
Representatives from the women's center distributed the candy this week during a meeting for freshman honors students. But the center has actually been distributing the candy for six years now, and during that time the center says it's received plenty of criticism.
The center's interim coordinator Autumn Haynes thinks that criticism is okay because it gets people talking. "We want to dispel that myth that it's not okay to talk about 'down there.' Many times young girls, particularly in our society, are raised with the belief that they have to fit a certain kind of body type and that it's not okay to feel comfortable about their sexuality, and our mission is really to dispel that myth so that women can feel comfortable about their bodies," Haynes says.
The center says it distributes the candy to promote the annual production of a play called, "The Vagina Monologues." It's based on the stories of hundreds of women and billed as giving "an honest account of their lives." The center says ticket revenue pays for the candy and no taxpayer funds or student fees are used.
Other students say they're not offended by the candy. "But I wouldn't eat one," says Jennifer Gillmore.
"(They're) just trying to get attention more than anything. That's what I honestly think it's all about, get publicity," said Tad Dunavan.
On that point the women's center would probably agree. They want publicity for their message - a message about women's sexuality delivered without any sugar coating.
A nurse that I know showed me a cigarette lighter shaped like a man's hoo-ha. Her coworker had bought it, and a larger one just like it, during a vacation in New Orleans.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.