15 June,2009 09:55 AM IST | | Swati Kumari
All men react in the same way to empowering women, be it the Women's Reservation Bill not being given the green signal by netas or MNC executives discouraging their girlfriends and wives from using the rubber. MiD DAY finds out why the female condom doesn't sell
The three-day-stubble-sporting Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United) may not have much in common with the 28-year-old suave Akash Varma, working with a Canadian MNC as a senior marketing manager. The young executive, a reputed public school alumnus, loves Continental dinners, holidays with his wife in Europe and wouldn't mingle with the loudmouth neta. But both belong to the same brotherhood. Both are equally vocal when it comes to empowering women. While Yadav threatened to consume poison if the controversial Women's Reservation bill was passed by Parliament, Varma is adamant his wife shouldn't use a female condom.
No sale
Chemists blame men like Varma for the dismal sale figures of female condoms, a reason why most of them have been forced to keep these away from their shop racks.
"We stock female condoms at our stores priced at around Rs 100 each. But there are hardly any customers. In the past six months, we have just sold 400 female condoms," said Sumeet Khanna, senior vice-president, operations, Guardian Pharmacy, a brand that has stores all across the city.
Whereas at an Apollo Pharmacy in a posh South Delhi market, female condoms are available only on order. "We don't stock female condoms as their demand is very less. We hardly sell one per month. They are expensive as compared to male condoms and many men are uncomfortable about them," said a salesperson at the premium store.
u00a0
Not user-friendly?
Even though Indian women are travelling around the world and working in tandem with men, not many use the condom. Is it lack of awareness or are the condoms not user-friendly?
"Female condoms are cumbersome large, clumsy and often ineffective. Their quality is very poor as well. The chances of their failure too are very high," said gynaecologist Puneet Bedi.
Social stigmas
u00a0
Jet-setting Varma has another issue with female condoms. "If I go to a chemist and ask for a female condom, won't it raise questions about my capabilities as a man? And I can never allow my wife to buy condoms," he said. His friend Vinay Kakkar, an IIM graduate and working with a reputed MNC, agrees. "Letting my girlfriend use a female condom is like spending her money on myself. How can I let that happen?" he asked.
Women too feel it's easier and less embarrassing to let the men decide and shop for condoms.
"Asking for condoms raises eyebrows in the poshests of shops. We are not comfortable buying them. I don't want to be seen as a promiscuous woman. I would prefer my boyfriend to buy and use one," said Neena Thapur, a college-goer.
The sexual stigma is so strong it permeates social borders. Liberal-minded celebrities too are against. "It is proven that male condoms protect us against HIV and everyone wants to play safe. None of my friends have ever used a female condom," said actress Pooja Bedi.
Why not a female condom
>>Does not contain spermicide
>>Is comparably more expensive
>>Is hard to insert and remove
>>Not easily available
>>The failure rate of female condoms is higher
>>These polyurethane condoms are most likely to slip, break
>>Women uncomfortable as the outer ring is visible and makes noise
