One fateful afternoon when I was 10 years old, I heard about sex for first time. Our fifth-grade teacher announced that she wanted to have a ‘talk’ with the girls after school. “As you can all see, your bodies are changing, you’re growing breasts and your hips are widening,” she said. “Very soon you will…
Let’s Talk About THE TALK!
I grew up on the outskirts of the big city of Blantyre, Malawi, and was brought up in an extended family. Every night after supper we sat by the fire. I would tell my grandma how my day at school went. She always listened to everything I said, about all the things I learnt in…
Trauma Bonds
The scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa is one that has called for the nation’s President, the honourable Cyril Ramaphosa, to declare it a second pandemic. South African crime statistics showed that, in 2017/2018, 2,930 women were murdered, which is the equivalent of one woman being killed in this country every three hours. These…
Join Inside My Purse Facebook live chat
Hello readers, we are excited to introduce our monthly chats LIVE on Facebook starting on Saturday, 04 September 2021 at 11amSAST/12pmEAT. Live chats will be exploring topics related to sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence. We want to hear your questions, concerns and experiences! Please follow us @InsideMyPurse and be sure not to miss these…
Unapologetically myself-radical self love.
As a 10 year old, I was sorry for everything, “Moraa you left the kitchen door open!” “Sorry,” Moraa, why are clothes not folded yet?”” Sorry, “Did you get milk from Nyagothie’s that I pay for?”” Sorry..sorry.. Sorry….” A litany of apologies for Clumsy, messy, forgetful self, who spilled evidence of such all over the…
How my period journey became less painful
It was a normal high school day, and I was chatting away with my friends in between class breaks when I suddenly felt an uncomfortable abdominal pain. There was not much I could do so I ignored the pain throughout the day even though it was persistent. As usual, after school we all went to…
Contraception is key
Sexual and reproductive health rights are one of my biggest passions. I believe that everyone has a right to enjoy safe and consensual sexual intercourse without the fear of unintentionally becoming pregnant, before being ready for it. This is evidently more fundamental to women; for they bear the responsibility not only to carry the baby…
Maybe One Day: Dream of My Future
“Thanks for coming” It was as if the voices came from miles away. My eyes darted from left to right as I looked for a boda boda that would take me to town. I spent the previous night drinking, dancing, and laughing with friends I hadn’t seen in a while. It had been a long time…