Wednesday, August 10, 2011
(photo: DPA)
After two decades of waiting and not getting a vital road resurfaced, hundreds of women in the town of Barbacoas, Colombia, began a sex strike to make their point.
About 300 women decided in June to withhold all sexual favors until the road leading to the next community was paved. The roadway was reportedly in such bad shape that it took half a day or longer for residents to reach the nearest hospital, resulting in unnecessary deaths.
The issue is considered so important that the men of Barbacoas joined in and added a hunger strike.
The “strike of crossed legs” apparently worked, as local government officials promised to begin paving on October 11. However, the women aren’t taking anything for granted, and have sworn to continue withholding themselves until the work actually begins.
Colombia’s sex strike follows similar protests that have taken place in Belgium and Kenya, but for different reasons.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Authorities Bow to Southwest Colombia Sex Strike (by Matt Snyder, Colombia Reports)
Colombia's 'Crossed Legs' Protest Is Redefining Women's Activism (by Euclides Montes, The Guardian)
Men Join Women in Southwest Colombia Sex Strike (by Travis Mannon, Colombia Reports)
Sex Strikes: A Recent History (The Week)
Sex Strike Urged in Belgium (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
Kenyan Sex Boycott Update (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
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