'Wells of passion', reflections on women, gender and health

Albert Rose

'Pozos de passion' is a literary project for awareness and dissemination of reproductive and sexual health. It is the work that gives title to the seminars that the Equality Unit of the Rey Juan Carlos University organizes between October 6 and March 7. The different online sessions that will host the project will serve to carry out a joint reading of this novel by Sara Sanz del Pozo, which will be the common thread and excuse for an open and tolerant debate on three main axes: gender and health, health and environment and , finally, female sexuality.

Myriam Catalá, professor of Cell Biology at the URJC and doctor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, is one of the organizers of the meetings. "Reading Sara's book, I realized the amount of scientific and relevant information it contains and that it is necessary to spread." The teacher explains the lack of knowledge that reigns in society regarding sexual reproductive health: “In my own classes I realized the lack of knowledge of my students and society of certain aspects of sexual reproductive health, in general and in particular of the woman".

'Wells of passion' is also a vindication of rights that delves into the serious problem of genital mutilation that has affected women around the world for centuries. "It is a problem that not only threatens the right to sexual enjoyment of women, but also affects all maternal and child health," explains Catalá.

Although the meetings will have a clear content linked to human rights, the seminars will stand out for having a scientific nature. “In the seminars we will deal with the social issue from a scientific point of view, based on biomedical data, although the cultural issue will also be dealt with”, assures the professor.

A calendar of sessions based on key dates

The calendar of the readings of 'Pozos de passion' has been programmed based on dates indicated in the promotion of health and the prevention of violence against women. October 25, World Day of Action for Child Survival, will be the date on which the joint reading begins. It will follow on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women; on February 7, one day after the World Day of Zero Tolerance with Female Genital Mutilation; and the last one on March 7, one day before International Women's Day, to offer and discuss the conclusions of the seminars.

All the tables will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams and registrations will be opened through this link or in the mail . Participation is open to any member of the university community or external persons. More information about the 'Wells of passion' seminars by visiting the following presentation.

To follow up on the seminars, copies of the novel are available to interested persons in the university libraries of the Móstoles, Vicálvaro and Fuenlabrada campuses and in other public libraries.