The fantastic, funny, moving and socially active production of The Vagina Monologues will be performed here on Friday by some really outstanding women. Friday is V-Day, the annual day of awareness about violence against women.

A lot of people are turned off by the title of the show, and, as they read about it on Wikipedia, are shocked at how directly the show discusses the vagina. Some people even leave during the show because they are so offended by the open discussion of the female organ

I cannot understand this reaction at all. In fact, I think everyone should be thrilled that the vagina is finally getting the attention and respect it deserves.

Nearly every woman on the planet has a vagina. Vaginas are elastic, flexible and resilient and are pathways to pleasure, intimacy, and actual human life. Vaginas are perfectly normal —more than that, they’re incredible.

I don’t run around shouting about how great vaginas are (although, if that’s your thing, attend the show this week, because it’s a prominent part.) Vaginas are private places on the body. However, the privacy we attribute to our sexual organs leads directly to our embarrassment about them, which leads to unwarranted shame. Shame leads to poor self-image and a myriad of other psychological and physical problems.

Most seriously, this shame can intensify following a rape. The victims feel too ashamed to report the rape or seek help. Rape victims need all the support they can get, but because of this senseless stigma, they needlessly suffer further.

We as a society need to end the imposition of shame and humiliation upon vaginas. The stigma is unfair, undeserved, and affects 52 percent of the human population.

We can start by respecting our own vaginas. Stand up for it. Don’t let anyone in unless they’re welcome. Don’t be afraid to talk about it. Women have come a long way in the last hundred years, but besides being proud of our accomplishments, abilities and achievements, we should be proud of our physical selves — vaginas and all.