The Online Reflector

The “That Takes Ovaries” open mic event was held in UIndy Hall A of Schwitzer Student Center on April 12 at 9 p.m. Based on the book “That Takes Ovaries:  Bold Females and Their Brazen Acts,”  TTO celebrates the empowerment of women.

Cecelia Wambach hands out awards at the “That Takes Ovaries” event to students who shared stories about times when they acted courageous. The event was held on April 12 in the Schwitzer Student Center. Photo by Kelbi Ervin

“So what is That Takes Ovaries? It’s a play, it’s a movement, it’s a book and it’s an open mic movement,” said guest speaker Cecelia Wambach.

Wambach is a former nun who volunteered with Martin Luther King Jr. and the Poor People’s Campaign.

“We [women] are emotional beings, and there are a lot of emotions that come into our life, like the emotion of fear. And in order to walk through that fear and do something special with your life, you have to have courage; and that’s what tonight is about,” Wambach said. “That Takes Ovaries is a program which hopes to inspire you to be your best, most brazen, bold, courageous, audacious self.”

Wambach said the term “that takes ovaries” was coined from the slang “that takes balls,” referring to an action that takes courage.

Wambach read a quote from the book to further explain the concept.

“By adapting the phrase ‘that takes balls’ to ‘that takes ovaries,’ we end the myth that equates only the male sex organ with innate power and fearlessness,” Wambach read. “Hell, we’ve been acting on our strength all along. The only new thing is that now we have an expression we can use to brag about it. The predominant culture may try to socialize girls into believing femaleness and femininity equals not as powerful, not as bold.”

Throughout the event, University of Indianapolis students read aloud stories from the book. Wambach also shared her own story from the book.

Thirty years ago, when the Pope came to Yankee Stadium, Wambach purchased a ticket. However, her seat was very far in the back of the stands. Wambach was disappointed about the distance between herself and the Pope, so she took action.

“I did something which was very, very brave for me. I sneaked down to the front row, and I was sitting practically right with the Pope. And I did it by just showing the police my ticket and saying, ‘Please let me through. My seats are down there,’” Wambach said. “And they never looked at it, and I made my way down. And I was actually in the pictures in the New York Times of the event. So that’s a kind of brazen, sneaky thing that I did.”

Women were invited to share stories of braveness or boldness with the rest of the audience. Doing so earned them a Golden Ovary—a chocolate egg wrapped in gold foil—which served as a reward.

“My favorite part was when Cecelia Wambach handed out Golden Ovaries for stories of courage, or of struggles that have been overcome,” said sophomore nursing major Mariya Townsel. “At the end of the night, all of the Golden Ovaries were gone because so many people shared [their stories]. One person getting up encouraged others to get up. And that, even in the smallest sense, was powerful.”

Residence Hall Director Jacqui Payne believed that the event benefitted students.

“I think it [the event] helps to offer a perspective. I don’t think that the history of women’s empowerment is often talked about, and so I think that was cool,” Payne said. “Also, it provided a new way of talking about it [women’s empowerment], and [proved] that it was acceptable to talk about it. Also, [Wambach discussing] the role of males as allies I think was a neat perspective to bring as well.”