An activist in the tiny West African nation has suggested women withhold sex from their male partners for one week in protest of the current president. He is Faure Gnassingbe who came to power in 2005 after the death of his father who ruled for 38 years. (Faure pictured below)

Activist Isabelle Ameganvi (pictured right) is a lawyer and says her group is following the example of Liberia's women, who used a sex strike in 2003 to campaign for peace.

SEX STRIKE

Her opponents pointed out that it's easy for her to say because she is not married nor live with a man at home. “Does she think women who live with their husband will be able to observe that?”, asked one.

Others added that though they agree with the sex strike they do not feel that their husbands will let them complete it. This of course raises some serious issues of consent, male dominance, subservience, women's rights, equality...and so forth. But I guess in Togo, one thing at a time.

Does this empower the women of Togo or just emphasize the outdated notion that women are sex objects? The fight for gender equality has still not been won on this continent yet comparatively speaking we are nuancing the roles, pay structures and stereotypes. In Togo, sex (or lack thereof) is the weapon. I guess you use what you have and if you win, someday you will have more.

Plus, if that's what it takes to oust an unwanted president so be it. Of course everyone has to participate in the sex strike because knowing men, it would only take a few willing "scabs" to thwart the movement. LEAVE COMMENTS.

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