6 Ways Women’s Sexuality Is Systematically Curbed In Our Society
Women and sex don’t go hand in hand, as per society. Over the years, there has been a systematic cultural suppression of female sexuality. The women of the generation of our mothers and grandmothers have always believed that sex is for men as and when they want it and the understanding and acceptance of female pleasure is a far fetched thought for them. While most of us millennial and gen Z women are more in touch with our sexuality, the fact is that women in the small town are still sexually oppressed. And I’m not talking about institutionalisation, I’m talking about practices that are used to suppress, or rather curb a woman’s sexuality and sexual desires.
Here are some ways that women’s sexuality is curbed in spite of all the conversations around sex and destigmatization of the negative connotations associated with women’s desires in bed.
1. FGM
So, before I begin, here’s a little trigger warning. I’m talking about female genital mutilation. This practice has been termed inhumane but it still hasn’t been criminalised in India. In several cultures, the external female genitalia is partially or completely removed in a bid to curb a woman’s sexual desires and prevent her from having sex outside marriage. Not only is this procedure painful but it also makes a woman incapable of experiencing sexual pleasure.
2. Motherhood
Motherhood is often used as a tool to hold a woman down and prevent her from having a healthy sex life. Once a woman is pregnant, it’s often said that she should not have sex but the fact is that there is nothing wrong with a pregnant woman having sex unless told otherwise by a doctor. Apart from this, after a woman becomes a mother, she is put on a pedestal and everything in her life becomes about her children and her sex life is ideally supposed to take a backseat for good.
3. Male-Friendly Porn
For a really really long time, porn has been something that only men enjoy. More so because there’s a lack of female-centric porn. Due to the lack of sex education in society, porn becomes the only way to access information and we all know how women are portrayed and stereotyped in porn. And sadly, even with the conversation around women’s sexuality and female pleasure, this is the one thing that still hasn’t changed.
4. Abortion And Contraception
Pro-lifers have always considered abortion to be a crime and women have, time and again, been told to not have sex because it could lead to unwanted pregnancy and how dare a woman have an abortion? And even in 2022, women have a severe lack of access to contraception and information about it which in turn makes it difficult for them to enjoy a healthy sex life without the fear of being forced into motherhood. Also, the fact that women are often discouraged from using contraception because sex is all about how the man wants it.
5. Sex Ed
While there is a little bit of sex education provided to people in India, it isn’t enough. We are, after all, the second most populated country in the world. Moreover, whatever little bit of sex education is provided in our country usually focuses on discouraging people from having sex instead of encouraging them to have safe sex. And let’s not forget how little women’s reproductive and sexual health is talked about.
6. Sexual Shaming And Labels
Dare a woman enjoy sex and she is given labels like ‘whore’, ‘slut’ and whatnot. Women’s sexuality is curbed with all these labels and sexual shaming. Instead of normalising masturbation, women are discouraged from exploring their bodies and pleasuring themselves. And as if motherhood wasn’t enough, a woman past a certain age is often shamed for wanting or enjoying sex, even in a marriage.
Also Read: 5 Sex-Positive Instagram Accounts To Follow For A Better Understanding Of Sex, Body Image, Contraception, And More
But ladies, let me tell you this – it is okay to want, love and need sex and sexual pleasure. Your sexual needs matter just as much as men’s. It’s time we claim our right to a healthy and happy sex life.
4 Ways Lack Of Sex Can Impact A Relationship. Here’s What To Do About It
