“Are you a doctor or a porn star?” People always ask about this literally every daywhen I first began producing moral judgmentsex education media content. In India, several people consider it odd and subversive to hear an everyday woman discuss sex in a proud and unabashed attitude.
In India, sex talk is still forbiddance. Public perceptions are still heavily inspired by Victorian social norms and laws that were enacted during British colonial control. In 2018, homosexuality finally became legal. Marital rape is still lawful in 2022. Sex before marriage is still taboo. And for many people, especially women, awedding still looks obvious. According to the latest Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 10% of Indian men use condoms. It becomes a burden on women in the name of family planning.
Why before marriage sex is forbiddance in India?
This is challenging to avoid the signal that anything beyond this restrictive and oppressive template particular. Single women having sex, queer sex, paid sex, consensual sex with many men, and even masturbation—is evil, and illegal.
The media still makes gloomy and weird news on sex life of celebs. As in news reports about illness and violence, or sensational and detailed, as in celeb relationship rumors and web porn.
If you’re fortunate, abiology class at school has a short ½ lesson on the uterus. A teacher may show students pictures of the uterine, ovaries, penis,and testes. Possible references are erection, penetration, and ejaculation. The message is obvious for women: sex is about having children, not pleasure.
I wanted to comprehend my own sexuality, sex education, and relationships as a young, unmarried Indian woman was not accessible.
This matter made me today what I am, a successful sex education content creator. My broadcasts now daily touch millions of young Indians. But there are restrictions on the duration of short-form audio and video. I wantedmore complete, cultural, inclusive, pleasure-focused sex education resourcesfor young Indians that felt warm. And then I published The Sex Book: A Joyful Journey of Self-Discovery.
Women and LGBT lives in India
Luckily, a lot of people, primarily women and LGBTQ+ individualsare beginning to create literature, music, activism, humor, and film. This challenges prevailing heterosexist, sexist, endogamous views. Being a member of this growing group delights me. The Indian mind seldom faces radical shifts, despite big legal advances like the legalization of gay sex.
Inorder to reach greater gender equality, it is my hope that our government and society will initiate to recognize the need for detailed, integrated sex Ed.
* Leeza Mangaldas is the author of The Sex Book: A Joyful Voyage of Self-Discovery.
