There is no doubt about the fact that women are raised to be neater. And sometimes this is done almost to the point of compulsion and poor health.
Some of the ways this shows up is via things like douching, vaginal washes and the rise of feminine hygiene products that are advertised as cleaning the vagina. While some women are vehemently opposed to vaginal washes due to their susceptibility to yeast infections when they use it, other women use them.
But what are the feminist angles of feminine hygiene products and douching?
To properly answer this question, Urban Woman Magazine spoke to some women and asked them to share their thoughts on douching, feminine hygiene and vaginal washes.
Read their responses below.
EB
I’m writing an ebook on this!
The problem is that many women don’t even understand that these products are harmful, that they can interfere with the vaginal ecosystem and lead to infections.
But the manufacturing companies and of course, society want us to believe that women should always smell like roses and vanilla 24/7. So, we douche, we buy scented soaps and wipes just so we remove our natural ‘flavour’ and smell nice…
Unknowingly, we disrupt the pH and the good bacteria that cleanse and protect our vagina when we introduce these chemicals into the vagina.
Sis, your vagina is self-cleansing. It doesn’t need your assistance, not even with soap. Abi, you dey wash your eyeballs ni?
TD
Vaginal douching is a side effect of the patriarchal idea that women’s bodies are unclean. And the irony is that they do quite the opposite of cleaning because they make you susceptible to yeast infections. I honestly do not recommend.
Angel Nduka-Nwosu is a writer, journalist and editor. She moonlights occasionally as a podcaster on As Angel Was Sayin’. Catch her on all socials @asangelwassayin.