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Over the past few weeks we have talked about the range of sexual concerns
across countries and contexts and how people are (not) able to deal with
them. Some approach medical professionals, some approach traditional healers
and some are unable to deal with them at all because of lack of access to
services and/or information regarding these services. The diversity of
concerns regarding sexuality differs across genders and sexualities and
while there may be similarities there are differences in the array as well.
We know for a fact that though the nature of these concerns could be similar
across people, the manifestations could be very different in line with the
unique and individual experiences of people. Sexual concerns can be both
more complex and varied and every individual's sexual concern would depend
on the circumstances and the stages of life. We know that the absence of
violence and abuse in sexual relationships does not automatically ensure the
presence of pleasure. And as much as we need spaces to talk about our
negative concerns of abuse and violence, we need to create simultaneous
spaces to address issues of pleasure as well.
Sexuality still remains closeted and treated as an elitist subject to be
dealt with only when all other 'more pertinent' issues have been dealt with
such as poverty and unemployment. Do we then feel that sexual rights are
significant enough to be claimed as a set of entitlements? Why is it that
there is so much silence when it comes to sexuality? What are the rights
that we can associate with sexual concerns? Can we claim spaces to talk
about issues of sexuality without feeling embarrassed and guilty? Can we
claim services that could help us address these sexual concerns without them
being exaggerated or pathologised as 'disorders'?
For the next week, we will be examining these questions as a part of the
forum discussion. Let's put them under two main heads:
1) What are the rights that we can associate with sexual concerns?
2) How can we claim these rights?
Please feel free to write in your analyses, observations, thoughts,
comments, and examples addressing any, one, or all of the issues and
questions raised above. Alternatively, please pose new questions and ideas
you feel are relevant for this sub-topic.
We look forward to a lively and exciting discussion!
Arpita Das (Moderator)
The South and Southeast Asia Resource Centre on Sexuality
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