This skit is easy to stage and engages any audience. It shows what a difference a friend, a parent, a child, a professional, or a community can make, and contrasts victim-blaming with empowerment. Maya’s story raises awareness about domestic violence, victim-blaming by family and community members, the difference support can make, women’s experiences of oppression and liberation, harms that everyone suffers, and empowerment.

“One of the audience member said that she no longer feels ‘suffocated’…because now she can breathe.” (Minessota)

Blanketed By Blame has been used in Alabama, Arizona, Bangladesh, California, Hawai’i, Lebanon, Minnesota, Ohio, Palestine, Texas, Wisconsin. We grant permission to adapt the text, change characters, names, translate the skits, etc. Please fully credit API-GBV and send us a copy of the adapted version.

Dramatization by the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence
Based on an exercise developed by Ellen Pence
Credited to the Deluth Project and Ellen Pence
Adapted by Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-based Violence

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