2400 years after the play’s debut, Janelle Monáe’s advocating going full Lysistrata.

In a new interview with Marie Claire, the musician and actress said, “People have to start respecting the vagina. Until every man is fighting for our rights we should consider stopping having sex.”

Photo: Giphy

It worked in the play, and Monáe feels the same strategy could help today.

To be clear, she isn’t advocating a war between the sexes, or writing off the male gender, “I love men,” she said, “But evil men? I will not tolerate that. You don’t deserve to be in my presence. If you’re going to own this world and this is how you’re going to rule this world, I am not going to contribute anymore until you change it.”

A world without more Cindi Mayweather, without more Moonlight and Hidden Figures performances — I don’t know about you, but that’s not a world I want to live in.

When it comes to changing the status quo, Monáe believes agency is the name of the game. “When gender norms and conformity are pushed upon us,” women must take control, she said, lamenting, “Women are told that this is how you should look. This is how you should get a man. This is how you should get a woman. You need to fit into all these boxes to be accepted. I don’t subscribe to that way of thinking … I have learned there is power in saying no. I have agency. I get to decide.”

Photo: Lonely Nigerian Boy

And not just she, but all women, have that same power, Monáe reminds us. “We have to realize our power and our magic.” Monáe hopes that black women in particular will take her words to heart, “I am all about black-girl magic, even though I’m standing with all women.”

2400 years from now, or sooner even, say, when we get to Cindi Mayweather’s time, one hopes that gender inequality and gender norms and societal discouragement of women’s agency will all be just black marks in human history; that thanks to the efforts of Monáe and the rest of us, that gender equality becomes the status quo.

Until then, however, let’s try to follow in Monáe’s footsteps. “This year?” she said, “This year, I am so carefree black girl.”

Photo: Dreamwidth