By Dorothy Aken’Ova
“Technology, Sexuality and Reproductive Rights?”
Sexuality has been defined as what makes us human beings, our expressions and experiences. Some of these are biological (natural) and some are socio-cultural (learned or acquired). Whether biological or socio-cultural, different facets of our sexualities are shaped and influenced by diverse factors which include an interaction of biological psychological, social, political, economic, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious, and spiritual.
Since the days of Foucault, there has been interest in the study of sexualities, what shapes us into who we are and factors that play a role in determining who we are, our sexual preferences and choices. As the influential factors impact on sexualities, they cause new trends and issues to emerge. Academicians and sexual rights activists have continued to observe the evolution of sexualities in the African setting, examining and assessing the influencing factors and how they influence sexualities on the continent. Some of the strongest factors are the emerging technologies. At no point in time has there been so much impact in how people are socialized and how they experience and express themselves, as it has been in this century. There has been a lot of interference in the manner in which people negotiate, and nurture relationships as a result of more sophisticated communication technologies. It will not be wrong to say that there is a “sexuality revolution” owed to modern technologies that have sped up communication, closed spaces and made the world a global village.
Even though the other arm of technological advancement responsible for liberating or controlling sexual behavior and fertility have experienced significant changes in this century, they have not had as much spread or been as globalized as communication technologies. These include new contraceptive devices, among which emergency contraceptives stand out. Others include sex toys, Viagra and other sex aids that get continually modified for more pleasure and safety.Technology and Sexual Health and Rights in Africa
In Africa, sexual rights activism, began after the Cairo conference of 1994. In the last 8 years, Sexual health and rights and its activism has intensified using the concept of sexual health and rights, identifying the causes of the sexual minorities, including the LGBTQI, and women whose bodily rights are often deliberately abused.
Activism around issues of sexual rights violation, especially of LGBTI, girls and women in Africa has intensified in the past half decade. Activists have fought policies that may otherwise have had adverse effect on sexual minorities in various countries in. They have been able to coordinate, raise funds, act, and stifle the conservatives on a number of occasions by just a click. and have received backlash in few hours or days by that same click.
Technology has also played negative roles. For instance, while in Nigeria, activists were trying to kill the bill prohibiting gay marriage, there was an internet campaign by a colleague that almost cost us the effort already made. Similarly, the news report that there was a party to celebrate the wedding ceremony of a woman who was wedding three women at the same time. The news also reported that the venue of the wedding reception had been burnt. This was followed up and discovered in less than 24hours was confirmed to have been false news.Also, there was a recording recently of gay men in a television studio that was supposed to be secured. Unknowing to the men, a news reporter for a print media used a camera phone to take pictures of the men and these were used in a sensationalized report in three news papers. This resulted in a lot of embarrassment, and anxiety to the men who were under threat of violence as a result of having been exposed.
Mobile Phones, the Internet and Dating in the African Context
Mobile phones and emails have made it easier for some individuals to be deceitful, dishonest and opaque. I have heard some men say that the day their wife lays her hand on their mobile phone is the day she leaves the house (divorce). Some people store names in disguise in their phones and intentionally NEVER keep records of calls and messages, nor a call register. In some cases if they have to keep a call register, it would be a very scanty one which does not tell much.
On the bright side, some individuals are becoming more accountable and transparent in their relationships as a result of these new technologies. They have an open system where each partner has the other partner’s email address and password and can use the box just as though it was theirs. They can scan through their partner’s phone contact list, call register and messages and ask questions where they are unsure. Women who live in this sort of contexts are increasingly able to hold their partners accountable. Thus creating an environment where partners are responsible for their sexualities and more accountable to their partners. It has been amazing to be part of this change, where communication to the rest of the world is just at our finger tips.
It would be an understatement to say that mobile phones have had an impact on the manner in which people express or experience their sexualities in Africa today. Now, it is possible for people to initiate a date(by selecting from many chat pals),have a relationship, sexual intercourse, get engaged and marry, online!.
I have provided on-line counseling for a client who was living in a different sub-region of Africa. She was suffering from a broken heart because her girlfriend had been given out in marriage. and wanted to leave school. She felt like dying and contemplated suicide. After months of interaction on line, she stabilized. She met another young woman online, this time a European. They dated for a little over a year. The European came to visit her and spent three weeks and went back to Europe. They both could not bear the absence after a couple of weeks and decided online that they will get married and live together in Europe. Their marriage is two years now.
There are lots of other resources online and over the telephone if people subscribe to them. They include fashion tips, love messages, tips for seduction, etc. These have definitely impacted on individual sexualities.
I met a young man who has been chatting with four girls on the GLO chat forum. One of them said she would want to marry him. This led to a quarrel. The young man was in shock because they have not met face to face. He felt that that was not the right way to fall in love. He ended the chat with her and would not pick her calls anymore.
A couple that was living apart shared with me how the present means of communication has enabled them stay focused. Not all the stories or relationships contracted this way have a happy ending. Some of these relationships can be abusive, exploitative and dishonest as demonstrated in the following counseling cases I have managed.
A young woman had been chatting with a young man. They exchanged telephone numbers and appeared to get along well, and enjoyed spending time online together. After a number of months, they decided it was time to visit. The young woman was invited. The man and his friend went to the airport to pick her up and found out that she was obese. The young man quickly switched places with his friend and asked his friend to take on his name and role. The girl ended up staying with the wrong person. She was never told about the switch.
A young woman called me to report that she was stranded in a Nigerian city where she had gone to visit a friend. They were given telephone numbers by someone else who knew them separately. They had communicated and had agreed to date. When she arrived, she was sighted by the friend who had the advantage of recognizing the lady since she was arriving from a journey with bags and all. She found a place to squat for the night and went back the next day.
In a group discussion with some young women, they disclosed how they got in touch with men, appear to be willing, get money sent to their accounts. When they had got enough money from a source, they abandon the Sim card and buy a new Sim.
And sometimes, there are accidents. I have counseled couples who fought over a sms (a love message) found on the other partner’s phone from an unknown sender. At other times these are mischievous or mis- sent messages.
When a relationship goes sour, a bitter partner also makes good use of the internet and/or the telephone to revenge by sending threats, or making anonymous calls.False appointments, made possible by the communication technology, for organized rape, trafficking, physical assault have also been reported.
Technology and Sexual Well Being
For erotic justice for everyone, it is essential to ask if the development in technology be it in the area of contraceptives or sexual pleasure (tools and aids), augurs well for everybody concerned. E.g, in producing Viagra, not only should the pharmacists check on the well being of the user, but should also examine its impact on the potential spouses. This will create a balance in sexual relationships and a scenario of everyone’s pleasure being taken into consideration. What has happened so far is that men, who think they need Viagra, just go to pharmacies and purchase them without counseling or a doctor’s prescription. An ideal scenario would be that the couple be counseled and the prescription given to ensure that pleasure is being provided for both. If a woman was to go and obtain a contraceptive device that same way, there will be chaos. In our society, men like to control fertility and women’s sexuality. The question then is how are women supposed to deal with a sexually virile partner when they are afraid they may get pregnant, yet are not allowed by the partner to obtain and use contraceptives? How do they continue to participate in pleasuring a male partner when their own pleasure is tabooed?
Virtually every stride in science has its benefits if used in a manner that is sensitive to everyone’s needs. Emergency contraceptives have been very useful to women’s sexualities for checking undesired pregnancies. In principle, it should have put more power into women’s hands in controlling their fertility and sexuality. The question here again, is how many women know about emergency contraceptives or have access to them? To enjoy this , women need to be educated about it, and it needs to be widely advertised like the male condom. Every female should be reached with messages on emergency contraceptives without exception – lesbians, bi-sexuals, women and girls with disabilities inclusive!
“Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships…” (WHO, Working Definitions of Sexual Health)1
If we agree with the above WHO definition of sexuality, we will agree that sexual intercourse is but a fraction of what the entire package that makes up our sexuality. Also, it would be erotic injustice to select contexts for the use of sex toys and aids for the attainment of pleasure. Expression or experience of sexual pleasure in the context of deriving sexual pleasure is open. Like other human rights, sexual rights place responsibility on the individual or the group involved, ensuring that the human rights of the sexual partner(s) are not infringed upon.
Challenges
The challenges that continue to plague the domain of technological advancement is unequal power relationships between individuals (gender power imbalance) and nation states which make access to the product of the new inventions a challenge to the disadvantaged side of the power balance. There is need to note that some of the trials take place in the disadvantaged countries using the most disadvantaged groups. Access is denied by the resources required to access these traditional taboos put in place and protected by the patriarchal systems that govern our communities and the nation states at large.
1(www.who.int/reproductive-health/gender/sexual_health.html#2)
* Dorothy Aken’Ova is the Founder and Executive Director of International Centre For Reprodcutive Health and Sexual Rights, in Minna Niger State Nigeria.
