image by Banothile Ngubane
Jane Sloan from The Bold Type, a show about a women’s magazine, contracted a
yeast infection when she pampered herself to a vagina facial. She confronted the concerned company in a women’s conference that promoted the products she used. Jane’s bravery encouraged other women to speak up about their vaginal problems they were too embarrassed to talk about. “I have vaginal acne” one lady said, “I have a low hanging labia” another said. It was sure a beautiful scene and a proud moment for many women watching.
As iconic the scene was, it is far from reality. Women seldom talk about their issues concerning vaginas with the fear of being judged. I am probably brave to write about this because no one will see my face, that’s how inferior the topic is. And for that reason, companies such as Gynae guard will never taste recession. Businesses that specialise in women’s vaginal health prey on women’s insecurities and feed off of the silence. They are concerned with profits that they don’t have any regards for the environmental and financial discomforts brought by these products. If you’re going to make the world unsustainable for your victims to live on, who are going to prey on?
The packaging of the intimate products such as creams, wipes and washes are made out of plastic. This kind of plastic is non-biodegradable – meaning the waste will roam this earth forever unable to decompose. For example, intimate wipes are not only made out of polyester, a non-biodegradable plastic but also use lots of water. By consuming these products, you're not only being harsh to your vagina but to your surrounding as well.
Not only do these products bring harm to living things such as animals but they’re likely to make you evaluate your financial standing, especially as a student in this crippling economy. The prices from local pharmacies and beauty shops range from R80 to R160. That is the money one could use to buy a meal or just whatever except solutions to non-existent problems.
You may never be brave to speak up as Jane or the other women on TV but don’t fall for the ‘pH balanced’ products either, you're better than that. Your best bet to your worries is a gynecologist, a professional trained to cater for your needs.
If you’re going to make the world unsustainable for your victims to live on, who are going to prey on?
Comments