Abstract
abstract Issues of sexuality remain taboo in many African communities, with girlhood sexuality being a highly policed domain. This creates a lot of challenges for girls as they negotiate the spaces between being a girl-child and a sexual being. This paper explores the gendered politics of elongating the inner labia among Basotho girls and the socially constructed notions of proper girlhood. I draw from a study which explored the memories of adolescent sexual experiences of Basotho women teachers through focus group discussions. The findings present girls' stories of being sexual beings and trying to perform normalised girlhood, while at the same time performing alternate discourses of girlhood. They highlight the use of labial elongation for promoting male sexual pleasure at the expense of female pleasure. Based on the findings, I argue for non-conformity in relation to labial elongation to give girls a chance of shaping their sexual identities around pleasurable sexuality.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.