Eve Ensler’s journey to recovery from an unconscionable abuse

The statistics surrounding sexual violence in the U.S. are astounding.

According to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control, more than 43 percent of women (over 52 million people) have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. The figure for men is nearly 25 percent.

Author Eve Ensler was the victim of prolonged sexual, physical, and psychological abuse at the hands of her father.

Her latest work, “The Apology,” explores how and why such a thing could have happened. Ultimately, her deep search for answers led her to channel the apology she never received from this man. The force of what she uncovered was life changing.

Ensler is the author of the world-renowned play “The Vagina Monologues” and the founder of V-Day, a global activist movement to stop violence against women and girls.

She was interviewed by Amy Wheeler, the executive director of Hedgebrook, a writer’s retreat for women on Whidbey Island. Hugo House presented their talk on June 14.

This episode of Speakers Forum originally aired in June, 2020.

Please note: This recording contains themes of sexual violence and unedited language of an adult nature.