Several cultures around the world have practices that subjugate and oppress women. However, the people of Malawi do it in a more shocking manner as women who are expected to be grieving are still sexually exploited.
This is done via the idea of ‘sexual cleansing’. Sexual cleansing is a common harmful practice in several African countries where a woman is expected to have sęx after becoming widowed or after an abortion, as a cleansing ritual.
In other parts of the world, a woman who just became widowed would probably be in grief over the loss of her husband. However, this is not the case in Malawi as such a woman is expected to move on to being intimate with another man immediately afterwards.
It does not allow make much sense why a woman who just took the decision of aborting a baby would want to be out in the playing fields for another intimate encounter which could very much result in another pregnancy.
These scenarios are, however, not the height of the matter. This sexual cleansing practice is also extended to young Malawi girls as they are forced to have sęx with a paid sęx worker, known as a “hyena”, once they reach puberty.
In this southern African country, both young boys and girls undergo this “initiation” of sexual cleansing. It is a social ritual that swallows up their beautiful childhood.
The kids are sent to initiation camps to learn how to have sęx. The “anamkungwi” or women chiefs teach them various sęx positions and kids will practice accordingly. In addition to this, the girls are taught chisamba, a dance to please their future husbands.
Families strongly support this “initiation” and the children have very little choice but to participate in the rituals. No one has the courage to break the age-old practice.
They are not encouraged to use any contraceptives like a condom, so the chances of getting sexually transmitted diseases are very high too.
