SEX EDUCATION

Dr Tanaya Narendra is using Instagram to facilitate open conversations about intimacy while also equipping her followers with the language of pleasure

- Arushi Sinha

PREETI NAIR, COMEDIAN, SINGAPORE

“I die a little inside every time I am called ‘brave’ for literally existing on social media or wearing something a little tighter or more revealing than usual. This is why bodies like mine need to be normalised. The way I try to shift perspectives is simple—I do it by living my best life and being unapologetically myself, hopefully giving space to everyone else to do the same”

INDIA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH SEX is a fraught one, the Kama Sutra notwithstanding. While our ancestors worshipped at temples teeming with erotic sculptures, the modern era sees any conversation about sex and sexual health shrouded in a veil of shame. While some of this pearl-clutching is attributed to conservative attitudes, (in itself a likely remnant of colonialism) we exist in an environment that does not make itself conducive to open and honest communication about the facts of life. As domino effects go, the ramifications of this are felt doubly by women, who have traditionally been shamed for displaying any agency over their sexuality alongside often being denied access to basic sexual health guidance by families, who considered it improper and unnecessary. Shame, secrecy and a sense of taboo create a fertile breeding ground for ignorance and the rise of misinformation.