This week in Dominica was Sex Week…now Sex Week was an initiative of the Bureau of Gender affairs intended to cultivate an environment where critical thinking was applied to concepts surrounding sex and sexuality.
In fact, this second annual “Sex Week” was anticipated to focus on both intersecting identities as well as radically educating and re-educating persons on sex.
I would first like to start by commending the Bureau of Gender Affairs for this initiative which I’m sure was created to share knowledge on personal health, sexuality, and to negotiate healthy relationships and friendships.
What disturbs me the most however is that people on social media were running rampant with the #Sexweek, using it as a means of ridicule or to be shocking.
The Sex Week social media blast if used right had the ability to positively impact so many, especially young people. Now I know that there were indeed some very helpful and thought provoking posts that lent a fresh and relatable perspective to the discussion but too many of them were downright crude and unnecessary.
Looking back on Sex Week one topic of discussion that stuck with me that was brought up and quickly lost among the barrage of more “humorous” posts was the sex double standard. For those who are seeing this term for the first time the sex double standard is the belief that women and men are held to different standards of sexual conduct. According to the sexual double standard, boys and men are rewarded and praised for heterosexual sexual contacts, whereas girls and women are derogated and stigmatized for similar behaviors.
A clear example of this is slut shaming. Slut shaming is an old concept with a modern twist with the term “slut” being applied to a form of social stigma applied to people, especially women and girls, who are perceived to violate traditional expectations for sexual behaviors.
Despite the ubiquity of “slut,” where you won’t hear it is in relation to men. Men can’t be sluts. Sure, someone will occasionally call a guy “a dog,” but men simply aren’t judged like women are when it comes to sexuality. (And if they are, they’re judged in a positive way!) Men who have a lot of sexual partners are studs, Casanovas, pimps, and players. Never sluts.
Nowhere is this concept more adopted than in the Caribbean. Women who are sexually liberated and often satisfy their sexual needs and desires without the burden of guilt or the judgment of established morally-correct societal mores are treated as social pariahs and are often the main topic of conversation. Now before anyone tries to make excuses using the “Small Island Mentality” excuse I’d like to point out that a significant amount of our Caribbean counterparts are much more accepting of this concept.
So what is it about a woman who is liberated that offends our fragile Dominican society so much? In 2017 the sexual double standard should not exist…slut shaming should not exist.
As Sex Week passed by among the jokes and humor I would have enjoyed if the #tolaranceforsexweek or #stopsexualgendersterotypesforsexweek would have trended more on social media emphasizing the need for us as a society to stop the social intimidation of women who are sexually liberated and end the sexual inequality that makes it so easy for our young women to see sex as something dirty and taboo.
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The KSChronicles are the observations and insights of blogger and journalist Kerdisha St.Louis. Each article seeks to invoke a reaction and/or introspection from readers in Dominica and the Diaspora on various thought provoking issues and topics. The column is published every Friday.
The bureau of gender affairs got the exact reaction they were seeking by naming it SEXWEEK.
Well said young lady! The article caught my interest from the first few lines of reading. It didn’t go in the direction that would trigger an uproar but it maintained an educated perspective of the entire #sexweek intiative and touching on serious issues that affect our society. We need more young women to articulate themselves like you and shine light on the social ills of our society we live in today. These campaigns simply aim to educate and create awareness but is still downplayed by society….Great Observation!
GET YOU ACTS TOGETHER. Sex means you have a partner. If you don’t got a partner and live like goat in savannah there is no sex for you. Just bachahkay. grow up
There is nothing to praise or reward in breaking the commandments of God and violating His moral code.
It only brings grief, broken homes, and marred lives.
It should be known that what God says about fornication in scriptures like 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 18 apply to both men and women. The reward for chastity is the same, and the penalty for immorality applies to both genders.
Every once in a while there is a seminar, conference, or symposium to educate people about sex. We only need to look at the spread of STD including HIV, and the percentage of illegitimate babies born, along with the numbers of single girls dropping out of school to raise their babies, and the single mothers struggling financially to support children who have no dad.
All the nation (any nation) needs to know about sex is found on the pages of the word of God.
It is not more sex education that is needed. We need a revival of New Testament Christianity. People need to encounter the risen Christ
Continuation:
Let religious leaders stop playing politics and preach what God says about sex in passages of scripture like Romans 1:26,27, 1 Corinthians 6:9,10,18, Galatians 5:19-21, and Ephesians 5:1-7.
Let the gospel be clearly preached in every community until every man, woman, boy and girl who has reached the age of understanding on the island knows how to be saved.
We cannot save ourselves. Read Ephesians 2:8,9.
Only Christ can save us. Read Acts 4:12.
Salvation comes by the merits of Christ and Christ alone
It is all because of what HE did on the cross.
Read Isaiah 53:5,6, and Romans 5:6-8.
When God saves us He not only forgives our sins. He begins a work of grace in our hearts that breaks the
the power of sins in our lives, and changes us from the inside out. We literally become *a new creature in Christ.* Read 2 Corinthians 5:17!
The Bible says *Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.* (Acts 16:31)
Sincerely, Rev…
I likewise commend the Bureau of Gender Affairs on their initiative.
To better understand sexual attraction we need to take it out of the realm of shame and secrecy. By doing so, we will be better able to direct its force to love and beauty.
In particular, all spheres of the arts have a responsibility towards this end.
Kerdisha, well written article. unfortunately mindsets in Dominica and the Caribbean in general have some way to go before they are changed but you have started the conversation and should not relent on it. It will take a radical shift before our peoples mentality on gender equality is liberated. I do believe, no I am absolutely certain that it will change, let’s just give it time.
Well said Kerdisha! These double standards need to stop..
I love reading your posts.. Keep up the good work!
“Sexually liberated”? Huh? What utter nonsense ideology is that? Is that the politically-correct term to describe wanton unashamed fornication/adultery in this day and age?
Channel 1.
Thank you for your common sense comment.
I cringe when I see or hear the term *sexually liberated*.
These poor souls who have bought into the immorality of the sex revolution many think they have been liberated but I ask liberated from what
Liberated from the commandments of God and His moral code 
They have not been liberated. Rather they have been enslaved by the bondage of sin. The consequences of their sexual freedom has been the HIV epidemic, an increase of STD, more illegitimate children, young unwed mothers dropping out of school, and children growing up without a father image in their homes.
We do not need more sex education. What is needed is an all around knowledge of the word of God, and a willingness to walk in the ways of God. This brings an abundant life from which nothing is lacking and guards young people against making shipwreck of their futures.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.