WHY I WROTE “IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN”

Whew! In The Pants Of A Woman! What a title! Many give me an awkward look whenever they see the title of my new play on my timeline on social media. Some wonder why a sane person would opt for a title as daring as IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN. Haha.

I always ask myself, “What is in the pants of a woman?” Well, I don’t know. One would need to see the play to do so. You may be far from right if you assume you know it all.

As a creative, one has to get people’s attention with their craft… and that is exactly what I set out to do when I settled on IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN as the title for my new play. What we know today as a play began as a poem somewhere in 2017 which was subsequently rewritten as an opinion piece the same year until it metamorphosed into a musical play this year.

Did I think twice about going commercial with such a bold title as IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN? Yes! I pondered over it many times! Looking at it from the business perspective, it was not the least marketable because it could scare many away. I knew there were going to be consequences on the financials of the production. Some patrons would be turned off. Others would doubt my intentions at all costs. However, I was ready to pay the price ─ the price of sacrificing it all to have a public discourse on rape and what victims go through.

If you have loved ones who are survivors of rape, the matter of rape sounds differently in your ears. It drives a dagger into your heart. It evokes an emotion of pain and revenge. Above all, it is an experience you wouldn’t wish for even your worst enemy.

I put myself in the shoes of a survivor while writing this play. I thought like a survivor would, especially concerning how differently they would want to see our systems work so others would not have to relive their pain. There was one thing I sought to achieve. I wanted us to have a global conversation on rape and there was no gentle route to that. 

Being the first of its kind on stage, I had to be bold… even if it may cost me. Though a sensitive issue, I had to put survivors above my own emotions and needs. Even if no one would watch a play on rape, I was ready to invest in it for the sake of humanity. My children could be victims one day. My loved ones could be, too. Fighting rape today, even though I may not benefit directly, could benefit society at large. And that was my goal!

If I wanted to create awareness about the plight of victims, I had to go the hard way… even if it made people uncomfortable. All that mattered was a medium that would allow the masses to walk through the shoes of people who are blamed after they have been abused. That is the focus of IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN. 

Thankfully, our first run in April was a great success. It went beyond my expectations. It was fulfilling seeing the masses reoriented as far as rape and gender-based violence were concerned. Some left the theatre in tears, drowning in the pain of survivors. Others left with the hope that our society could get better if a lot more people could stand for the right thing to be done. 

All through our campaign, I have kept emphasizing that the musical is on RAPE, not sexual abuse. I believe that ‘sexual abuse’ sounds milder. Many have never taken the message of sexual abuse seriously because they have always glossed over it as a cliché. RAPE, as a word, however, pricks people’s conscience. It gets their attention to listen to what one has to say!

Rape is a daily canker, and we need creatively daring creatives to take such on without fear or favor. Our craft should be a medium through which we can tackle every ill in society. Many of our loved ones are battling with the pain of rape because our society has been fashioned to silence victims. We blame them for their woes while their abusers are pampered. 

There are no causes of rape, and this is one lesson that is hammered all through the musical. When people are abused, it is not because they were in the wrong outfit. A short skirt, for example, is not a cause of rape. This is one truth the whole world must know! 

We must remember that whenever someone falls victim to rape, it is not because they were in the wrong place. It is because they ended up in the arms of the wrong person. They ended up in the same space with someone who could not control their libido. This is how every young person should grow up perceiving victims and their abusers.   

As a playwright, crafting impactful stories is my ministry. I love to challenge myself with taboo topics because the stage is my pulpit. I use it to challenge my audience to look at life from a different perspective. Writing is not a mere hobby-turned-career to me. It is the only weapon I have to fight injustice and all other wrongs that have gradually become right in our society. 

I love to see empowered women because women are the channel through which life is birthed. That is why I would join any bandwagon that is on the move to fight any injustice against them. If you are reading this, be concerned about any conversation on rape. If you have a wife and/or children, be concerned too. Boys are abused as much as girls are. It would be such a pain to realize someday that your loved one had always been a victim of rape without your knowledge.

Join me next week on Saturday, July 20^th, as we rerun IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN at National Theatre. The first show is at 3pm and second show, 7pm. Let me add that it is very child-friendly and the whole family would have a lot to learn. Together, let us make the world a better place one day at a time.

Kobina Ansah is a Ghanaian playwright and Chief Scribe of Scribe Communications (www.scribecommltd.com), an Accra-based writing firm. His play, In The Pants Of A Woman, returns to National Theatre on Saturday, July 20th. Enquiries – 0546098082