Sexual Health & Related Resources

Sexual Health

Entails a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence

Reproductive Health

It is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes

At Amirrah, we believe that while we can talk about Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in tandem with one another, by no means should we be using these terms interchangeably.

In other words, we want to encourage the recognition of sexual practices, and more specifically - healthy sexual practices, outside the realm of reproduction.

Also important to recognise is the fact that under overpowering and often resistive cultural and social factors, it is hard to differentiate these terms successfully due to the fear that if we are talking about sex, then we must be promoting sex as well.

Resources:

Contrastingly, at Amirrah we believe, when we do not talk about these concepts, it fares even worse as we pave way not just for the type of premature decision-making that can take place but also the rooting of deeply grave misunderstandings about SRH in general. This further results in a lack of support for individuals who end up feeling not just alone but also embarassed in their experiences.

So this begs for the question...

How do we actually talk about it?

Before anything, it is important to realise that Sexual and Reproductive Health are both umbrella terms as they enfold within them a multitude of understandings and experiences, all of which are essential to look into in the overarching mission to advocate for their respective rights. However, the manner of our talking is strongly relied on the following processes:

Un-learning

We could start with something as basic as understanding your own body and needs.

By this, we don't mean to just refer to the knowledge you were first introduced to in your biology books but the knowledge that has ultimately followed, both, outside of textbooks, through media and friends and family, as well as through culture at large. This includes practices that have impacted the way you look at yourself and your body and how your physical experiences coincide with your emotions and needs.

From the moment we enter into adolescence, we are compounded with a range of bodily changes. It is also at this crucial stage where most individuals often realise and form their notions on sexuality and sexual practices. This is why it remains important that we can learn to differentiate between substantiated truth and what may be misleading information and/or myths.

Overtime, we will come back to this through our projects and our editorials to provide you with an in-depth take on the various aspects that tend to inform our learnings regarding SRH, especially in the contextual setting of India and Kenya. These will, of course, be built upon by the following and some basic questions to spark some initial insights:

Where does your knowledge about your body, your sexuality and sex come from? Is it textbooks, social media, or friends/family?
How often do you challenged this knowledge by trying to look for pieces of information on your own? Would you know where to begin?
Do you feel a certain restriction thinking or talking about your sexuality or sexual practices? Why do you think that is?
are you confident in your knowledge regarding sexual practices, including contraception?
How often do you think about the kind of complications that can arise during such practices? Do you know where to look for help, if they do?

Budding Awareness

By challenging our existing knowledge and ensuring that our truth stands substantiated, we can rid ourselves of the many misconceptions that surround our understanding of SRH. The next step for us is to familiarise individuals with what is essential and what is healthy for us.

While we seek to create awareness about the different aspects within this umbrella term, we also want to build access to any and all existing resources that people can reply on in their need for a practical helping hand.

Take a look at the playlists gathered below to embark on your awareness building journeys: