Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
The responses of Indian men to the Durex #OrgasmInequality campaign, which aims to start a conversation about female orgasms reek of fragile masculinity and misogyny.
A few days ago, Durex rolled out its #OrgasmInequality campaign with this unsurprising (to women!) statistic, and invited Indian women to share their experiences, including talking about fake orgasms. Celebrities like Swara Bhasker, Pooja Bedi, Kenny Sebastian and Aparshakti Khurrana also lent their voice to the campaign.
The stories that started coming out from women were a testimony to the discomfort that women have been made to internalize with respect to their own bodies and sexuality.
For some Indian men and their fragile egos however, it was a bit too much to handle, and #BoycottDurex started to trend on Twitter.
Needless to say, it was perceived as an insult to Indian men, their sexual prowess, and to Indian culture as a whole. Some men, of course, decided that this would be a good forum to boast about how good they were at sex, while others questioned the validity of the data.
There was mansplaining galore about how this campaign was unfair to men, and whataboutery, and laments about the “lows that feminism has reached!”
The “outraged on behalf of Indian women” maa-behen comments weren’t far off either.
And the misogyny wouldn’t be complete if one did not blame women themselves for not having orgasms, or using some twisted logic to link the statistic to adultery!
The vile and disgusting comments directed at Swara Bhasker, Pooja Bedi, Kaneez Surka and Aditi Mittal are disturbing, to say the least.
Twitter users were quick to point out that by trending #BoycottDurex, Indian men were only revealing their own insecurities to the world, while others noted that to many men, female orgasms were irrelevant, because as far as they are concerned women are just baby-making machines! Author Kiran Manral also pointed out that stereotypes and misunderstandings about female orgasms are prevalent even in the West, as revealed by research done by Shere Hite.
Talking about female orgasms may seem like a frivolous issue on the face of it, but regulating how women experience sex, and placing restrictions on how women express their sexuality are examples of how patriarchy thrives and controls women. It goes beyond the fact that women have as much right to pleasurable sex as men, and connects to larger issues like objectification of women (women are “things” to which sex happens; they have no sexual agency) and marital rape (where the woman’s desire or lack thereof are not at all taken into consideration.)
It is time to recognize that women are neither mere sexual objects, nor are they pious goddesses that are above and beyond sexual urges. Women are human beings that have natural sex drives and desires, and every woman’s body experiences arousal and orgasming differently. Irrespective of whether one uses Durex’s latest product, what is really needed is self-awareness, patience and honest and open communication between sexual partners.
With their toxic responses to Durex’s campaign, however, Indian men have showed that Indian women have a lot to be dissatisfied about – in the bedroom and beyond.
Image source: a still from Lust Stories
read more...
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
It is shameful that in today's world too, women are abused and even killed for giving birth to a girl, and the infant's life is also of no value.
Trigger Warning: This deals with domestic violence, suicide, and violence against women, and may be triggering to survivors.
I am so glad that the esteemed courts are now giving the much-required verdicts regarding certain ideologies that were not at all entertained earlier. I mean we all have studied this much biology at our school level and it is our duty (our generation) to educate our elders about it.
Why someone have to lose a life to bring such awareness to the society. Delhi High Court gave this judgement concerning a case that filed by the deceased daughter’s parents against her in-laws. She committed suicide as she was harassed and tortured for dowry and giving birth to two daughters.
Please enter your email address