Louisville senior Ashley Coulter shared a woman’s experience masturbating for the first time at age 72, complete with a detailed explanation of ‘the flood’ that followed.

Crystal Hardeman told her character’s heartfelt account of her ‘Coochi Snorcher,’ pairing the humorous phrasing with a recollection of traumatic violence.

Smiths Grove senior Londa Stockton demonstrated every type of sexual moan imaginable, all on stage for everyone to see.

The WKU Gender and Women’s Studies Program performed the Vagina Monologues Thursday night. The 10 women told tales of their characters’ relationships with their vagina, their experiences with orgasms and hardships they face as women.

The monologues raised money for the sexual trauma recovery center Hope Harbor. By blending humor with heartbreak, the performers worked to combat rape culture, body image issues and sexual stereotyping. Attendees like Bowling Green senior Brittony Pinnegar appreciated the heavy issues addressed in the show.

 “As funny as the performance is, it’s also important that it brings up stuff like violence against women,” Pinnegar said.

The activism promoted by the performance gave the women involved the motivation to dedicate their time.

Louisville sophomore Erin Miller shared a piece stressing the importance of knowing one’s body. The monologue detailed a woman’s experience exploring her vagina. Miller saw the monologue as a journey of self discovery.

 “I wanted to do it because of the message,” Miller said. “It’s a message of empowerment, encouragement and support.”

Newcomers to the show came in with various expectations. Richmond junior Sydney Allen came to the show with some reservations, but left the play feeling it was an overall positive experience.

“I’ve always been skeptical because it seems kind of trans exclusionary,” Allen said. “I really liked it, but not every woman has a vagina and not everyone with a vagina is a woman.”

Miller admitted the play could use an update to further include those individuals who facing societal oppression.

“[Not representing transgendered individuals] is kind of outdated,” Miller said. “That explains it. It doesn’t justify it though. I could see a monologue getting added in the future.”

Nevertheless, the women were proud of the message they shared with WKU. Stockton reflected on the show’s impact after demonstrating the ‘Jewish’ moan, the ‘Doggy’ moan and, her favorite, the Grace-Slick moan.

“I want people to leave with a new-found respect for women,” Stockton said. “It takes courage and a lot of balls to be a woman.”

The show ended with a demonstration of empowerment. One by one the women proclaimed a way society had oppressed them, and they all set out to change things together.