Kath Magrobi speaks to African Alliance about her experience using the inner condom, and what she wants for its future.
This article is part of an African Alliance series celebrating 25 years of the inner condom in South Africa and the people who helped to establish the world’s biggest state-funded inner condom project.
What took too long to fit, was noisy, flappy and ugly? The older version of the inner condom, says Kath Magrobi, feminist researcher and founder and director of Quote This Woman.
The organisation Quote This Woman is a database of voices less heard in the media, including people who do not identify as woman – such as trans men, non-binary folk, and genderfluid people. They are an intersectional feminist organisation that aims to transform gender representation in the media by promoting women+ voices and narratives that reflect African demographics and perspectives. The plus in the name means anyone who is unheard in mainstream news.
Back to the inner condom – it’s gone through some changes.
The FC1 condom was made from soft thin plastic called polyurethane, and was first introduced to South Africa in 1998. But it was more expensive to make. Listening to feedback from users across teh world the manufacturers made some key changes – for the better!
The FC2 (or second generation FC) is made of synthetic nitrile latex, causes no allergic reactions and unlike latex, may be used with both oil and water based lubricants.
The FC2 was brought to South Africa in 2009,and procured by the South African Department of Health (DoH) where till today it remains a key feature of Governments work to provide a basket of options to prevent HIV, unplanned pregnancies and a range of STI’s.
Magrobi got involved with the female condom in 2010, when working on an informal research project in Lesotho, where the USA had brought some into trial and wanted feedback.
“A workable, enjoyable inner condom has the potential to increase options available to people with vaginas in terms of sexual health and reproduction – so it’s a huge, empowering step in terms of personal agency.”
What does Magrobi want for the future of inner condoms?
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if a handful of sex positive influencers representing all genders and sexualities that have sex with people with vaginas step up to the mic to say ‘I really enjoy sex when a female condom is in play’ and they could become mainstream in this way? Imagine how it would change the dynamic of who has agency in sex?”
We’d have to say we agree.
Do you think you could be SA’s next sex positive influencers? Get in touch with us on X and Instagram. We’re at @Afri_Alliance on both platforms.