Vagina Monologues Challenge Stereotypes

Women’s Institute for Leadership Development on Tuesday, 8 December 2020 held a second screening of the Vagina Monologues Africa in Pumula North Hall where women and men convened to learn about the different forms of abuse that affect members of the community.

Women also spoke strongly on the issue of forced sex in marriages. Most women said such a violation caused major physiological strains on them. They said that there was a need for men to respect women’s decision to not indulge in sexual activities with their husbands despite the fact that they were married.

Participants recommended that sexual education be included in schools to educate young people about their sexual rights and various forms of sexual violence that affected women.

Participants took time to discuss how women of different sexual orientations were violated especially in public spaces, citing that such violations are ignored as many people regarded queer culture as foreign.

Speaking during the screening, residents said it was important for people to desist from inciting violence on each other on basis of sexual orientation, adding that everyone had a right to be respected.

“It is very wrong for someone to abuse the next person because they are of a different sexual orientation. If someone is a lesbian or they are gay they still deserve the same respect and non-discriminatory behaviour as everyone,” said one of the women.

Such discrimination is a form of violence because you realize that some do not even get the health services they require simply because they are gay,” she said.

The monologues also highlighted various traditional augmentations of private parts that put women’s health at risk. Women who participated said they should never be forced to conform to such practices as they put their lives at risk.

Others, however, were of different views as they said traditional practices should not be ignored in the light of the new cultures that people are now adopting.