In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, tens of thousands of women have been raped in what United Nations officials have called the worst violence against women in the world. In a culture where rape brings victims more shame than assistance, how are women finding safe ways to speak out about their suffering?

Panelists Include: Lynette Jackson, Professor of Gender Studies and African Studies at The University of Illinois Chicago; Ngozi Udoye, CEO and President of African Women in America; and Prexy Nesbitt, Speaker and Educator on Africa, foreign policy, and racism.

CONTEXT, the issues series produced by Goodman Theatre, engages our community - here at the theater and across the city - in conversations that both illuminate our productions and act as catalysts for deeper exploration. Unlike post-show discussions that focus primarily on the production, CONTEXT events concentrate on particular issues raised within the plays and explore how they resonate in today’s culture. Whether looking at the issues of identity and how we define ourselves, or how issues of race and class play themselves out in Latin America, CONTEXT offers public space for debate and discussion.

Recorded Sunday, December 07, 2008 at Goodman Theatre.