By Tue Tran, Editor-in-Chief -

The final celebration of this year’s Love Your Body Week occurred on Friday, Nov. 5, with a performatory reading of “The Good Body” by Eve Ensler. The event has become an annual tradition – the culmination of the week’s panels, film, and lectures.

Grace Jacobson, A&S ’10, and Christina Lepri, A&S ’10, co-directed the play, both having acted in the play since freshman year.

“I never stop learning from the play,” Lepri said. “It makes me reevaluate how I see my body every time.”

Ensler, who also wrote “The Vagina Monologues,” expressed in monologues how different women from various parts of the world view their bodies. “Eve,” played by Lepri, hears those stories and ultimately comes to accept her body, specifically her stomach. No topic was too personal or too taboo.

The play juxtaposed drama and humor, covering topics ranging from family pressure to be thin to how to hide “the spread.” Obsession with plastic surgery and women’s various views of bread are also discussed. Male characters were also included in the play, as both support and hindrance to ultimately loving one’s body.

The cast members met weekly since September to discuss the play, and their primary objective was to talk about these issues. The performance allowed the audience to take part in the group’s self-discoveries, not simply the play itself.

“It’s all around the monologues,” Lang, A&S ’10, who played “Priya,” said. “We’re adding everything we’ve talked about to it. “

After the play, a discussion led by Abigail Brooks, interdisciplinary professor, and Sharlene Hesse-Biber, professor in the sociology department took place. This included conversation about the lack of resistance on the part of the women to societal views of the body and the role of males.

Edward Shore, A&S ‘10, felt that this event was especially important for him to attend. “It’s especially powerful for a white, straight male to interact with the realities of the world,” he said.

The event was sponsored by the Women’s Studies Department and the Women’s Resource Center.