Sex strike and loose caboose!

The Soloist, Contributor

Two interesting stories caught my attention last week. I am sharing them for your reaction. The first is an excerpt from an Associated Press story out of Lome, Togo. It reads in part:

The female wing of a civil rights group is urging women in Togo to stage a week-long sex strike to demand the resignation of the country's president.

Women were being asked to start withholding sex from their husbands or partners as of last Monday, said Isabelle Ameganvi, leader of the women's wing of the group Let's Save Togo. She said the strike will put pressure on Togo's men to take action against President Faure Gnassingbe.

Ameganvi, a lawyer, said her group is following the example of Liberia's women, who used a sex strike in 2003 to campaign for peace.

"We have many means to oblige men to understand what women want in Togo," Ameganvi said.

"It's a good thing for us women to observe this sex strike as long as our children are in jail now. I believe that by observing this, we will get them released," Abla Tamekloe, another woman said. "For me, it's like fasting, and unless you fast, you will not get what you want from God."

When asked if her husband would agree, Tamekloe said: "It is easy for me to observe it. I am used to it, but I am not sure my husband will accept, I have to explain to him."

Another Togolese woman said she supports the sex strike, but she does not know if she can carry it out for a full week.

"I do agree that we women have to observe this sex strike, but I know my husband will not let me complete it. He may agree at first, but as far as I know him, he will change overnight," Judith Agbetoglo said. "So I don't believe I can do the one-week sex strike. Otherwise, I will have serious issues with him. He likes that too much."

Though the call for a sex strike seemed to please many women, some men, including heads of opposition parties and human rights groups in the anti-Gnassingbe coalition, did not believe it would be a success and suggested two days instead.

My question is: Could Jamaican women do the same for something they felt strongly about? I doubt that very much, we just sit back passively and suck up all the injustice and abuse from politicians and the people who control wealth and power in Jamaica.

Tightening cream

The second story came from the BBC, as follows:

An Indian company has launched what it claims is the country's first vagina tightening cream, saying it will make women feel "like a virgin" again. The company says it is about empowering women, but critics say it is doing the opposite.

Ultratech's owner, Rishi Bhatia, says the cream, which is selling for around US$44 (£28), contains natural ingredients, including gold dust, aloe vera, almond and pomegranate, and has been clinically tested.

"It's a unique and revolutionary product which also works towards building inner confidence in a woman and boosting her self-esteem," says Mr Bhatia, adding that the goal of the product is to 'empower women'.

Mr Bhatia says the product is not claiming to restore a woman's virginity, but to restore the emotions of being a virgin.

"We are only saying, 'feel like a virgin' - it's a metaphor. It tries to bring back that feeling when a person is 18."

All I have to say is that Jamaica did this first; earlier this year, Jencare's Jennifer Samuda formulated Vejuva. But seriously, readers, what will they think of next? How about the good old Kegel exercise, a favourite among women who have given birth: Hold a clean pencil, 'up there' 10-15-second intervals in half-hour sessions, at least twice a day. Enjoy your week.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com