Eve Ensler: A life for a world without violence
Author, feminist and activist: Eve Ensler
© Adil RazaliTransforming pain into strength - that's what the author and feminist Eve Ensler has made her life's work. The New Yorker became known in 1996 with her play "The Vagina Monologues". She founded the women's rights organization "V-Day" and built a village for raped women in the Congo, where they can find new strength. Her biggest project started the 60-year-old last year: With the One Billion Rising campaign, she called on women around the world to take to the streets on February 14, 2013 and dance in protest against violence. Millions of people in 190 countries followed their call. In February 14, 2014, One Billion Rising is scheduled to enter the second round.
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde editor Michèle Rothenberg spoke with Eve Ensler in Berlin, where she met with German activists to plan the new campaign.
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde: They've managed to turn an idea into the biggest protest action ever. Why is One Billion Rising such a success?
Eve Ensler: I believe that the combination of dance and the desire to do something about violence against women has touched a human string. There are so many women who have experienced violence and have since lost touch with their bodies, who are isolated and no longer able to move freely. One Billion Rising has sparked a desire in women from every culture to participate and dance. It touched me a lot to see that. The special thing about dancing is that it is both solemn and dangerous, joyful and irritating. That makes it the perfect female protest form.
On the day of "One Billion Rising", Eve Ensler (in the black T-shirt) was in the Congo, where she set up a relief and therapy project for raped women in the "City of Joy".
© Paula AllenThey worked for months for the day. How did you feel when the time came?
The day itself was completely crazy. I was in the Congo right now and could not go online, the internet connections in Congo are very unreliable. I kept getting calls from people asking me if I'd already seen the videos of the riots around the world. But I saw nothing! So I had people tell me on the phone what they were watching on the screens. That was even more moving in a way because it was conveyed to me through emotions. When I finally saw the pictures of the actions and the masses of people, of course I was overwhelmed. The world and women were so united on this day.
Critics say One Billion Rising is just a big show. After that everyone would go home and continue as before. What did you think changed One Billion Rising?
I believe the action has an impact on each individual and on us as a global community. For me, violence against women is an energetic destroyer. Our body is the gateway to our consciousness, to our intelligence, to ideas, to our soul. Every time we get traumatized, a new nail blocks this gate. We have less access to our knowledge, our power and our energy. Dancing blows these nails out, it frees us. We know again what we feel and what we think. I would even say that dancing is one of the most powerful things we can do. It generates tremendous energy and we can only guess what these forces can do.
Which concrete changes existed?
I could give you a long list. In many countries, One Billion Rising has led to violent crime on women being brought to justice for the first time. For example, in Somalia, women went to the streets together for the first time - and now more and more rape is reported there. I was in Budapest, where there was a national women's conference for the first time. Many told me that would never have happened without One Billion Rising. New laws are underway, such as the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act in the United States. We see women all over the world who are now brave enough to raise their voices.
The World Dances: Short Film about One Billion Rising 2013
Do you think that the feminist movement has gained momentum overall?
Our action has brought many new women into this movement. I do not know how many wrote to us that they have just started their own organization or taken on another role in the fight against violence against women. Women from Syria and Palestine have just announced that they want to join One Billion Rising next year. What appeals to these women is that they belong to a global movement. This gives them protection and legitimacy.If we continue to grow this movement and unite with other movements, one day we might really end violence against women.
The next step comes on February 14, 2014: One Billion Rising for Justice. What is your new campaign about?
"We live in a world where there are a billion holes in the ozone layer of female justice."
After the day of action, we discussed with the coordinators from all over the world what should happen next. The point where everyone agreed was the desire for justice. It happens so often that the perpetrators are not held accountable. One reason for this is that women do not dare to tell their stories - no matter where, whether in Germany, the Congo or the USA. And if they dare, they will be raped again in the process. They will be bullied and given the feeling of being themselves guilty. You could also say we live in a world where there are a billion holes in the ozone layer of female justice. And these holes cause so much suffering in us, depression, obesity, cancer. If the crimes done to you are not punished - what protection do you have? The idea for the next campaign is to find out what justice looks like and how we can achieve it.
How exactly should the actions look like? Very different. In Mogadishu, women want to negotiate a special rape case in court and use that as an example of possible justice. In Peru, a great action is planned with construction workers calling for an end to sexual harassment on the street. In many prisons women want to show that their imprisonment has much to do with the fact that they have previously experienced terrible violence and racism. The actions are very different, but at the same time more focused than last time. And of course we will dance again.
You yourself have experienced violence: your father raped her when you were a child. What would justice look like for you personally?
My father died already. But if he were sitting in front of me, I would wish that he feels my pain and apologizes. That would be enough. I would not want to see my father in prison for all eternity. I would want him to recognize his crime and feel my grief. That's my idea of justice, but there are so many others we collect from all over the world. For some, justice is that the rapists will be condemned. Many want a justice system that treats people of all cultures and classes fairly and equally. Others think about how we can create a society in which men learn a different idea of masculinity. For a climate in which violence has no consequences is so dangerous. It educates men generally to a predatory, reckless behavior.
You said how important it is for women to tell their stories. You have taken the first step and written your own experience of violence in a book *. How did that help you?
It has freed me. I believe we are unaware that we are prisoners of our secrets. We do not tell them because we are ashamed. Because we secretly believe we did something wrong. The moment we break the silence, we free ourselves from the pain. And it has the effect that other women also dare to tell their story. So we create an environment of trust that is free from prejudice.
Her whole life is dedicated to women who have experienced violence. But can your own wounds heal if every story reminds of your own suffering?
There was a time when the stories caused more pain in me, but they were also healing in a harsh way. Because one of the worst consequences of a trauma is the isolation. You feel so alone with what you have experienced. When we share our stories, the sense of isolation disappears. But to be honest, I've heard too many stories in the last 16 years. Especially in the Congo, where the war has destroyed so many bodies of women. The suffering of the women literally flooded me, it was more than my brain and my soul could endure. I learned of such atrocities that for a time I lost faith in humanity. But I had to go through it, and it also made me stronger. It has motivated me to fight an end to violence, greed and depletion.
Eve Ensler with German One Billion Rising activists and activists in mid-November in Berlin.
© Nika KramerMore about "One Billion Rising for Justice", the actions planned in Germany and about Eve Ensler's activities can be found at: onebillionrising.org onebillionrisingforjustice.de vday.org Website of the City of Joy in Congo
* "In the Body of the World: A Memoir" by Eve Ensler, 240 p., Metropolitan Books, 15.38 euros, via Amazon.de
