Skip to content
Infano-logo
  • Health & Fitness
  • Sexual Health
  • Mental Health
  • Periods
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • PCOS
  • HerStory
  • Campaign
  • pink-search-icon
    • Close

Sexual Health And Pleasure- This Woman Is Giving The Talk You Never Got

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin
October 24, 2021

Highlights

  • Sex, sexuality, sexual health and pleasure, the taboo topics in our society are finally finding voice thanks to social media.
  • Karishma Swarup is a sex educator who advocates for sex, sexual health, sexuality and pleasure through her social media.
  • Karishma and Infano are doing a Masterclass “Clit Chat” to help people with vaginas, vulvas, and clitoris to experience pleasure.

 

 

  • Full Read
Spread the love

Sex, sexuality, sexual health and pleasure, the taboo topics in our society are finally finding voice thanks to social media where sex educators have found a platform to spread, information, awareness, and education through their contents.

At Infano, we try our best to create meaningful conversations around the less talked about topics surrounding women’s health. With this in mind, we bring to you our first Masterclass on understanding Clitoral pleasure “Clit Chat” to help people with vaginas, vulvas, and clitoris to experience pleasure.

“Clit Chat” is an experience uniquely designed by Karishma Swarup to get people talking about the clitoris and other parts of the vulva that allow people to experience sexual pleasure.

But who is Karishma Swarup?

Karishma (she/her) is an internationally experienced sexuality educator and advocate who holds an undergraduate degree in Geology-Biology from Brown University and runs a sex ed Instagram page @talkyounevergot. Karishma was recently awarded “Influencer of the Year 2021” by UK’s NHS SH:24 and Brook.

Karishma Swarup

In this interview with Infano, she opens up about the need for sexual education, sexual health and pleasure in the sexual context.

·         Tell us about yourself and how your career as a sex educator began?

My experience and learning about this field came from working with an NGO named Planned Parenthood, an organization in the US that offers different sexual health and reproductive health services including sex ed. I was a part of a student organization where we taught sex ed to high school students in the area. Working with them, I got 3 years of field experience. After graduating, I worked as a middle school science teacher in Brooklyn before I began her work in sex Ed. I conduct workshops & online webinars with top educational institutions, student groups, and young adults. And also volunteer for Scarleteen, USA, one of the oldest sex ed websites for young people around the world.

·         What do you think is lacking when it comes to sex education in our schools and society?

Everything is lacking in India today, a lot of people have misconceptions around what sex education even means. Sex education is not just the biology chapter in the textbooks, but in reality, sex education is so much more than that. Good comprehensive sexuality education is a more holistic practice that should include STI, consent, pleasure, including gender and identity as well. Some schools have menstrual education classes but there again they may split the boys and girls.

·         What education or courses does one need to do to become qualified as a sex educator?

There is no such course in India. People just come at it from different angles like there may be doctors who work for its advocacy. Or some school counselors branch into this work as sex therapists or teachers and parents who are motivated talk about it. People who have worked in the mental health space and have worked with the youth gravitate more towards this as a specialty. Some NGOs too offer training programs like NFOLD, Tata Institute of Social sciences, but for certification, one can choose to take International courses if one wishes and can approach it from whichever angle they wish and facilitate conversations around it.

·         Why do you think it is important to talk about sexual health when imparting sexual education?

Sexual health is a very important part of sex education and a lot of fear and misconception comes from not knowing enough about how to be safe and have safer sex. All that people are worried about is unwanted pregnancy and want to know what sexual acts are safe to perform and which ones are not.  But we also should expand the conversation to include talking about how to prevent STI transmissions, how condoms work. No one talks much about STIs as there are so many stigmas attached to this topic that many people choose to suffer in silence. So we need to start this topic from a young age. Also, there have to be conversations about consent in both the context of abuse as well as relationships.

·         How open do you think society is becoming when it comes to a topic like this?

Society today is much more open than it was five or ten years ago and even more than it was fifty years ago but in pockets of society, this kind of conversation has been happening for decades. There are organizations like TARSHI that have been doing sex education for a few decades. But yes, talking about sex is becoming more mainstream today with the advent of social media as people have access to other people who are sharing this information so I think society is becoming more open to a topic like this. Still, most people are afraid to utter the word sex leave alone talk about sex education in a more holistic, non-judgmental way. So it still has a long way to go

·         Do you receive trolling and criticism online / offline for what you do or have people around been supportive?

There is definitely trolling but not as much as I expected. The general response has just questions. People have just so many questions that they need to be answered or want to talk about with a source that they can turn to that it is almost overwhelming at times to see the number of people reaching out to me. Or sometimes it is just a single person with a lot of questions.

·         What is that one myth that you think needs to be broken ASAP when it comes to sex?

The fact that older adults think that young people don’t have sex or maybe they choose to ignore the fact that it is happening, is one myth that needs to be busted. People are having sex, outside of marriage and traditional societal structures so this denial and giant myth that seems to exist because of peoples unwillingness to accept the fact that indeed young people are having sex and not providing them the care, resources, and information that they need to be healthy, successful individuals.

·        Why is it important to understand about clitoral pleasure and why are you advocating about it? What can one expect from this class with Infano?

According to a research-only 4% of people with vaginas orgasm through intercourse alone, 34% orgasm from direct clitoral stimulation alone and 43% orgasm from direct clitoral stimulation + intercourse! So if people can identify the clitoris and learn clitoral stimulation, the act becomes more pleasurable. This class will teach you ways to achieve pleasure through that. So if you are So if you’re someone with a vagina/vulva, or If you’re sleeping with someone who has a clitoris, then this class is definitely for you.

clit chat
Details about the masterclass

The “Clit Chat” masterclass is on Saturday, October 30, 12 pm onwards. You can register for the “Clit Chat” here.

Follow @infano and @talkyounevergot on Instagram for more comprehensive sexuality education content!

sex educatorsexual healthsexuality

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Infano Care

My Journey of Self-acceptance: Megha Gupta

Written By: Shweta Singh
September 29, 2022 | 02:02 PM |
788

Highlights

Facing the wrath of trollers over my weight

My guiding light that helped me through my fears – my husband

My journey of self-acceptance

Bringing up my daughter to be confident and fearless.

My message to all the women are mocked for their body weight

  • Quick Read
  • Full Read

Things started to look up when I got married to my best friend. He not only accepted me for who I am but also respected my individuality and the choices to live the life I want. Being with him made me feel empowered. I started regaining my confidence and picked up every single thing that was forbidden due to my weight. Right from wearing short dresses to going on a wandering spree and eating my favorite food without having someone’s eye on my plate. I started doing it all.  I got the confidence of ignoring the nuisance of the world to do the things I loved.

Spread the love

Self-acceptance is not an easy journey in a world that wants you to fit into those shallow beauty standards.
You should try some weight loss exercises.
Hey, don’t eat that you will put on weight. 
Wear some loose-fit clothes; it will hide your curves. 
Oh! You are eating again.

Hearing such taunts was a part of my everyday life while growing up. Friends, relatives, and sometimes even strangers did not spare me from their unsolicited advice on weight loss. The constant body shaming compelled me to recoil into a shell and I defied self-acceptance. To cope, I grew aloof from my friends and avoided family gatherings, gave up my favorite clothes that showed too much skin and even flinched from walking alone on the roads. Meanwhile, I developed frequent episodes of anxiety and panic attacks and I started questioning my worth. Will I ever be loved or liked? – became a recurring thought.  

Amidst all the fuss my only solace was dance. I  loved to groove over my favourite songs and thus whenever hurt, I would resort to dancing alone in my room until I felt better again. 

My Strength

Things started to look up when I married my best friend. He not only accepted me for who I am but also respected my individuality and the choices to live the life I want. I felt empowered being with him. I started regaining my confidence and picked up every single thing that was forbidden due to my weight. Right from wearing short dresses to going on a wandering spree and eating my favorite food without having someone’s eye on my plate – I started doing it all. Thus, started my journey of self-acceptance. I got the confidence of ignoring the nuisance of the world to do the things I loved. 

My daughter – Mini Me

Seven years into the marriage I gave birth to my baby girl Avyana. I wanted to give her the best upbringing and made it a priority to fulfill all her wishes. It made me ecstatic to see the miniature version of me springing right in front of me. More than anything I wanted her to be confident and live her life to the fullest without dreading the world. I would push her to be at the forefront of every activity in school and she on her part rocked at everything she participated in. Then, resurfaced my worst fear. My relatives started picking on my 6-year-old daughter for being chubby and asking me to not dress her in short clothes. I feared Avyana suffering through the same things like I did. But her Mumma has learned to face the world and turn down all odds bravely. 

I make sure my daughter lives without the fear of being judged, dresses the way she loves, and eats all that she wants to. To encourage her I put up her acting and dancing videos on Instagram I love how my girl is having a lively and fulfilling childhood that I was deprived of.

After all these years it’s not a smooth sail. People at my workplace and family gathering still pick on me for my weight but unlike the old times, I have learned to face them with a befitting retort. 

The journey continues…

I owe huge gratitude to my husband for firmly standing beside me through thick and thin and making the journey of self-acceptance easier. Not everyone is lucky to find such a supporting partner and I feel really lucky to have one.
To all the women who face the wrath for their weight – It’s about time we own up to ourselves and give the love our bodies deserve. Stop trying to fit into those fake beauty standards that change every day. Life is too short to bother about the world’s view about your body and your life. Let’s encourage ourselves and everyone around us to start their own journey of self acceptance.

To read more such articles, Click Here

Body positivityBody shamingoverweightself loveself-acceptanceWeight shaming

Shweta Singh

A Writer, who sometimes lends voice to audio book and loves to be on camera. An avid reader with a penchant for storytelling on camera.

Related Posts

Pregnancy 4 mins Read

How To Prevent A Pregnancy: 5 Things You Need to Know About Emergency Contraception Pills

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin November, 13 2021 | 10:00 AM
HerStory 4 mins Read

From Fighting Dark Complexion To Low Self Confidence, How This Woman Made Her Name A Brand!

Written By: Sonali November, 1 2020 | 10:56 PM
Mental Health 3 mins Read

PCOS And Depression: How to Deal?

Written By: Shweta Singh April, 20 2023 | 01:14 AM
HerStory 3 mins Read

Karnam Malleshwari: The First Indian Female To Win An Olympic Medal!

Written By: Sonali November, 28 2020 | 09:03 PM
Sexual Health 3 mins Read

Self Pleasure is not Selfish

Written By: Shweta Singh May, 9 2022 | 03:38 PM
HerStory 5 mins Read

World Photography Day: These Female Photographers Are Shaking Up India’s Perspectives!

Written By: Sonali August, 19 2020 | 09:58 AM
HerStory 5 mins Read

This Doctor Travelled 700 km For A Natural Birth Experience!

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin December, 15 2020 | 10:26 AM
HerStory 2 mins Read

National Nutrition Week 2021: Six Nutritionists To Follow On Instagram

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin September, 5 2021 | 05:22 PM
Trending 5 mins Read

Why Women Need Safe Spaces Online?

Written By: Sonali July, 22 2021 | 06:59 PM
HerStory 4 mins Read

#MyStory: How I Went On To Become India’s Notable Criminal Lawyer And Psychologist!

Written By: Sonali January, 6 2021 | 11:47 AM
Health & Fitness 5 mins Read

Here Are Some Exercises For Women From Every Age Group

Written By: Infano December, 7 2021 | 02:16 PM
Pregnancy 3 mins Read

Vaginal Changes Post Childbirth

Written By: Shweta Singh August, 31 2022 | 01:53 PM
Periods 6 mins Read

How Do I Convince My Mom To Let Me Get Menstrual Cups?

Written By: Sonali May, 5 2023 | 01:37 PM
HerStory 3 mins Read

National Youth Day: Meet The Inspiring Young Women Shaping India!

Written By: Sonali January, 12 2021 | 09:00 AM
PCOS 4 mins Read

How To Manage PCOS And Ovarian Cysts: Is There A Difference Between Them

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin November, 9 2021 | 10:00 AM
Parenting 4 mins Read

Valentine’s Day: A Time For Stress For Parents Of Teens And Young Adults?

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin February, 14 2022 | 02:40 PM

Subscribe to our Newsletter

To keep yourself updated with women-related news around the globe, articles, opinions, suggestions and exclusive offers that you should not miss, subscribe to our newsletter.

    Home | About Us | Contact Us | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cancellations and Refund Policy | Pricing-Policy
    © 2023 Infano Women's Health | Lifestyle | Success Stories • Powered by GeneratePress

    Insert/edit link

    Enter the destination URL

    Or link to existing content

      No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.