Telling her story through the stories of others gave playwright Eve Ensler the courage to continue. “I am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls”, her new play whose worldwide premier was held in Mumbai recently, is based on Ensler's travels to over 25 countries where she interviewed young girls about rape, abuse, domestic violence and genital mutilation.
Ensler, herself a victim of abuse, said that it was hard to break the silence initially. “Everything is hard when you break that silence. Then you realise that, by your speaking, other people begin to speak.”
She believes men have to be part of the change process. “They have to be involved in the struggle. Violence destroys one out of three women. In every country women get re-raped through the law for coming forward. Women can't talk about being raped without them being cast out. Laws need to change,” said Ensler.