Eve Ensler, author of the long-running politically and socially significant play, The Vagina Monologues, thinks a proper apology from oppressors could go a long way in healing the emotional scars suffered by victims of sexual and physical abuse.
Speaking on Wednesday at The Opera House to a large audience, she said, “I think an apology is humbling, it is about becoming vulnerable. When I think about the architecture of apology, I think it’s a sacred act.”
The feminist author and playwright was in the city to release and talk about her recent book, The Apology, which chronicles years of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her late father. About it she said, “I think an apology, is humbling and, it’s becoming vulnerable. When I think about the architecture of apology, I think it’s a sacred act.”
She added, in a conversation with journalist Faye D’Souza, “An apology is a very specific thing, and it’s deep. We teach our children how to pray and we teach our girls how to apologise. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t say sorry all the time. But, we don’t teach our boys to apologise.”
Ensler revealed that she never did get that apology from her own father. Hence her book, written on behalf of all those women traumatised by abuse and who have never received an apology from their abusers.
Also present at the event was actor Rahul Bose, who read some excerpts aloud, and Dr. Nandita Shah and Nandita Gandhi of The Akshara Centre, a non-profit active in the field of women’s rights for the past 24 years. “The lives of women need to change positively,” said Dr Shah, adding that “gender equality is non-negotiable, emphasising as well the need for both men and women to be a part of this change.
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