US playwright and activist Eve Ensler, best-known as the author of episodic play The Vagina Monologues, began a week-long visit of Taiwan on Wednesday.
Ensler is to speak in Taipei tomorrow about her work on ending violence against women, a goal which she has promoted throughout the V-Day movement since 1998.
On Monday, Ensler is set to attend a rally in Taipei organized by the One Billion Rising campaign to announce a joint plan to increase the status of women. She is to be joined there by representatives from several Asian countries.
Photo: Chen Ping-hung, Taipei Times
Since its launch in 2012, the campaign has held events in 190 countries, typically featuring drumming performances and dancing, seeking to raise awareness of violence against women and promote gender equality.
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is also to attend Monday’s rally, according to the Garden of Hope Foundation, which heads the campaign’s activities in Taiwan.
The foundation has organized 23 local performances of The Vagina Monologues since 2005.
Presented as a string of personal stories told by women, the play elaborates on themes such as sex, love, rape, menstruation and childbirth, as well as relevant current issues told from a female perspective.
The play also promotes the open discussion of female sexuality, presenting the vagina as a symbol of empowerment.
At a press conference in Taipei yesterday, Ensler said she has seen her play performed in dozens of countries and gender inequality is a theme that resonates with audiences across different cultures.
Garden of Hope Foundation chief executive Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容) said that although Ko was once criticized for allegedly making discriminatory remarks about women, he has “made progress” in this area since taking classes on gender issues.
Additional reporting by CNA
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