Mumbai: Women Empowerment (WE) foundation in association with Metropolis Healthcare has developed an app ‘TooShyToAsk’ where teenagers can openly discuss and anonymously ask questions on sexual health, nutrition and much more with a group of experts in an easy, safe and comfortable manner.
According to a report by the United Nations Human Rights Council, there is a lack of comprehensive sex education in India. Discussions about sex and sexuality is an awkward subject in the Indian home. “There are over 1.2 billion adolescents (between the ages of 10-19 years) in the world of these 243 million adolescents are in India with nearly 121 million adolescent girls,” said Dr. Prakash Gurnani.
The doctors said that name of teenagers will be anonymous on the application when they ask questions. “The approach towards the subject of gender and sex is impacting teenagers who are growing up in the shadows of misinformation, peer pressure and unrealistic expectations of sex and sexuality, as depicted in the media. Moreover, the main aim of launching this app is building a two-way communication with the adolescents,” said Dr. Duru Shah, Gynaecologist and Founder of WE Foundation.
She further stated that both males and females can ask their questions related to sex, puberty, myths, gender violence, and such. “The question will be answered by the gynaecologists experts and will be spreading awareness by conducting workshops in schools and colleges,” added Dr. Shah.
A senior doctor said that sex and sex education remains a big challenge. There is the growing need for sex education in our country. “Today youth are technology savvy, this app will help bridge the gap and curb the awkwardness around the subject and will help teenagers by answering their queries,” said Dr. Gurnani.
