Uncommon poet Pranjal Asha speaks her mind articulately. She voices her thoughts with a clarity that reflects her conviction on issues that are often outrageously disregarded by most men and even women.
“Here is one such issue – Masturbation, specifically Female Masturbation.”
This phrase is enough to make many squirm uneasily and wonder if it is sensationalism at work here.
But it is not.
Everything needs to be discussed- spoken about, clarified, articulated, pondered upon, debated and argued. No society ever did any good by sweeping issues under the carpet.
And so let us make a beginning right here on The Uncommon Box.
“Talking about things that matter”
So I have been trying hard to write about female masturbation and the taboos surrounded by it. They’re endless.
I had to write about female masturbation for an event happening in Bombay and I failed to. Maybe because there was so much to write and I couldn’t find the right words for it.
Again, that is one particular thing that happens with me. I can’t write when told to or given a topic.
But while I was trying to write something about it, I realised how male masturbation is so common that we often come across men masturbating in public, which is a criminal offence.
I remember, some weeks back I was in Deer Park, taking a shortcut to Hauz Khas from Green Park with four other girl friends of mine. We came across this man in the park who had been following us and rubbing his crotch too hard. We first thought of ignoring him, then made fun of him and thought of going live on Instagram documenting this and bringing him to shame, and then thought of something that we actually did- ignoring him and walking ahead since he was no more following us, aware of us looking at him. He could not actually do anything to us since we were five and very strong. But his sight left all of us feeling disgusted.
In a world where something like female masturbation doesn’t even exist for some people, men masturbating in public is a very common sight.
I could write only a few lines after recalling that incident and they were,
‘Maybe you don’t know about me masturbating,
Because I don’t do that to scare a foreigner woman in bus,
Or to five girls casually walking in a public park.
Maybe you’re not ignorant,
But I masturbate with being in touch with my dignity.
Maybe you don’t know about it because
Masturbation for me is
Personal,
Political,
But not
Criminal.’
Did these lines touch you or offend you? Whatever answer you may have, we are sure ,they would have left their impact on you.
The association of this act with a strong assertion of personal space and personal dignity is what rings loud and clear.
Are you in agreement or do you disagree?
We, at The Uncommon Box would like to know.
Leave your feedback on this issue in the comment section below and let us hear from you.
About the writer:
Pranjal Asha is currently pursuing Bachelor of Arts from Miranda House and has been writing on various issues online. She is a popular budding spoken word poet.
You can follow her on Instagram
Photo Credits : Akshay Kapoor
Do you have a story to share ? Mail us at theuncommonbox@gmail.com or use the Submit Your Story option on the website
We encourage all kind of creative work whether articles, poems, sketches, doodling, painting, food styling or about fashion or travelling or photography.
If you are on instagram follow us @TheUncommonBox and use our hashtag #TheUncommonBox for the same.
You can reach us on FB Page too by following our page “THE UNCOMMON BOX” and can tweet @THEUNCOMMONBOX
