#WomanCentered: JANNEKE H.
#WomanCentered is an independent project by conceptual artist and community organizer, Natasha Marin. Inspired by Women at the Center, a project created with support from the United Nations Foundation Universal Access Project. This series of interviews seeks to tell the inspiring, interconnected stories of women’s reproductive health, rights, and empowerment.
How has having or not having children affected the overall trajectory of your life?
Not having children gives me the opportunity to completely focus on myself. To be selfish, to focus on me, to determine my life-path to grow into the best me: independent, powerful, strong and confident.
Do you feel pressure to fulfill an idea of womanhood that may/may not correspond to who you actually are? If so, please describe.
Sometimes I do. I feel I am not allowed to love myself, be loud, be confident, be instructive, be direct and assertive ... I am sometimes afraid I come across as egocentric or narcissistic if I create or talk about my passions. I have been called bossy and aggressive by a man, and why? Just because he was intimidated.
Do you have advice for other women regarding birth control methods that worked well or didn’t work well for you?
I used the Nuvaring — that was great, but I rather don’t wanna put my body full of hormones. It gives me moodswings, I rather use condoms. So fuck anti-conception, not putting that in my body.
In 2016, openly discussing one’s reproductive choices is still considered taboo, why do you suppose more women aren’t having these conversations?
I don’t know. We are afraid to be loud, use our voices and say fuck it — is it my body? We are living in a society where we constantly need to doubt ourselves, our society surrounds things with so much secrecy, mystery and darkness. I have no problem telling about my choices, but don’t forget I am a rebel. Like to break taboos, talk about vaginas, porn, penis and so on.
