In Lebanon, a small Middle Eastern country known for its rich cultural heritage, there exists a persistent taboo surrounding the topic of sex education, and anything related to the matter.
To challenge this stigma and promote a healthy and responsible approach to sexual health, an awareness campaign has emerged, aiming to dismantle the taboo around sex education through a series of clips that stress on the apparent societal fear surrounding condom use.
“Condom Hunters” is a new hybrid format between a short film and a campaign. It is written and directed by Marc Basset and produced by Shadi Rabahi. The goal of “Condom Hunters” is to break societal barriers, empower individuals, and foster an open dialogue about sexual health in Lebanese society.
The main idea of “Condom Hunters” is to pinpoint the lack of sex education in Lebanon and to normalize the use of condoms. It aims to empower individuals to make informed decisions and take control of their own well-being when it comes to sexual health.
A widespread occurrence of unintended or hidden pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) led to the birth of this campaign. Through “Condom Hunters”, an acceptance and regular usage of condoms will be promoted and with that potentially saving many lives and futures.
“Condom Hunters” is a short film and awareness campaign that showcases different scenarios emphasizing the societal stain on condom use, and through them, equips its audience with the awareness it deserves.
Condom Hunters: The Awareness Campaign Part I (The Couple)
Here, a young couple struggles with which one of them is going to be the one who buys the condom. Both feel a sense of shame and fear due to the limitations set by their society.
Condom Hunters: The Awareness Campaign Part I (The Couple)
The mother emphasizes how it’s okay for her son to ask for condoms and do “whatever he wants” when it comes to sex. On the other hand, she shows complete and utter disregard for the matter when it comes to her daughter.
This shows the discrimination between men and women when it comes to this topic. For men, it seems it is somewhat less of a societal issue for them to ask for a condom. However, this is not the case for them and also seem to be uncomfortable when it comes to this topic.
Condom Hunters: The Awareness Campaign Part II (The Mother & Daughter)
Whereas it is extremely frowned upon for women to even discuss condom use in a healthy way. This is shown through the contradictory dialogues of Youmna and Nada – a daughter and her mother – where the mother cannot fathom or accept that a conversation about sex can be openly discussed while the daughter wishes otherwise.
Condom Hunters: The Awareness Campaign Part III (The Married Man)
Nonetheless, even though there is a bit of leniency when it comes to men regarding this topic – they seem to still feel ashamed to speak openly about it. Even those who are married have trouble navigating how to ask for a condom.
Condom Hunters: The Awareness Campaign Part III (The Married Man)
Lebanon’s conservative cultural context has contributed to the silence surrounding the topic of sex education and though the above clips have a sarcastic, humorous tone the underlying issue is a very serious one. It is crucial to recognize that the ongoing silence on the matter will continue to act as a hindrance in Lebanon.
This is why “Condom Hunters” seeks to educate the public and encourage them to overcome societal barriers through normalizing discussions about condom usage. By challenging deep-rooted cultural norms and engaging in comprehensive education, the initiative strives to change perceptions and ensure that every individual has access to the knowledge and tools necessary for maintaining their sexual health.
