CHENNAI: Statistics say that in the US, every 12 seconds a man abuses a woman. In India, this happens every 20 seconds. The skit by Ben Atherton Zeman, a public speaker on issues of violence prevention, was a reflection of this harsh reality.
The interactive role play, part of the project ‘Educating to prevent Men’s Violence Against Women: The Jen and Steve Skit’, was presented at the University of Madras. It was organised jointly by the US Consulate and University of Madras. The play revolves around two Amercian college students Jen and Steve, who are in love. Zeman, through the play, aims to convey the point that ‘abusers don’t just use fist’.
Steve is an abusive lover who has a temper problem and Jen is a devoted girlfriend. She refuses to pay heed to the warnings of her friends and family until Steve’s attitude takes a toll on her studies and work. “It is the emotional and social backlog that makes it hard for Jen to get out of the relationship. Also, she comes from a family of lawyers, so she knows what to do instead of taking shelter or counseling. Any woman with dignity will take a step,” says Bijoyini Mukherjee, a scholar from Department of Women Studies, who plays the role of Jen.
Hurling verbal abuses and physical assault, suspecting and invading into Jen’s space — abuse can take various forms, and women don’t even realise they are victims of abuse at times, explains Zeman, spokesperson for the national organisation for Men against Sexism.
While Steve’s romantic lines on Jen get the student audience laughing, the other side of him get them thinking. The skit by Ben makes sure that the message doesn’t get lost in between romantic dialogues by encouraging the audience to play roles in the skit.