In honour of Youth Month, the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) proudly presents the Beyond 76 Series: Youth Knowledge in Motion. This series celebrates the bold research, critical thought, and visionary work of Master’s and Doctoral graduates under the age of 35. These dynamic young scholars are reshaping South Africa and the continent through transformative ideas and scholarship. Their work echoes the courage of the youth of 1976 and carries forward a legacy of change, justice, and economic emancipation. Join us as we spotlight the next generation of changemakers in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

1. In 2025, what does Youth Month mean to you — personally, academically, or as a young South African?11

Youth month represents a time to commemorate those who came before us and fought so that we can enjoy the opportunities and freedom we have today. Whilst we cannot shy away from the issues that we are faced with such as youth unemployment, gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, crime and other problems that affect us as young people, we also need to think about how we can become part of the solution. Youth month reminds us of young people who took charge and fought against a brutal system. We ought to do the same today and change the status quo. Maybe, our struggle will not be only won through protests but by doing our best to create change in the spaces we occupy, be it in the workplace, business, civil society, politics etc. This is also a time for us to embrace diversity and think about how we as young people can work together to create a better and inclusive South Africa for all.

2. What impact do you hope your NIHSS supported research will have on society or your field?

To give a summary of my study, I focused on how cultural influences shape women’s construction of their femininity and how they perceive their bodies. It presented women's expressions of sexuality, encompassing their acts of resistance, cooperation, mixed feelings, and advocacy in challenging and deconstructing male heterosexual dominance through vaginal practices. I discussed how these women contended with and contested social constructions of female sexuality, often disregarding the realities of their sexual lives and experiences; looking at sexuality as a construct that was simultaneously being challenged and fashioned through the vaginal enhancement practices of ntsu (snuff). I believe that my research sparks conversations about how we view and present (African) women’s sexuality in research and highlights women’s sexuality, desire and pleasure as important subjects of research. It also highlights the importance of moving away from essentialist views of women as sexually passive thus embracing female knowledge, desire and sexual prowess. It further highlights the need for collaborative research into the different vaginal practices. Finally, I believe that it encourages open and honest conversations about women’s sexuality, even in non-academic spaces.