In a society where silence speaks louder than words, Theresa Panchoyan initiated a vital conversation. Through social media, she emerged as an activist, sex educator and polarizing figure. For many Armenian women, she became a long-overdue voice breaking taboos around sex education and empowering them with knowledge about their bodies and rights. To others, she’s a disruptor, challenging deeply held and cherished traditions. Whether met with applause or outrage, Theresa has sparked a dialogue that Armenians can no longer ignore.
Widely known as “girlunmuted” on social media, Theresa began her journey in 2020 with an anonymous Instagram blog focused on sex education in Armenian society. Her influence grew substantially after she revealed her identity, which amplified her presence and increased engagement. Her content now covers topics such as sex education, women’s health, and dismantles misconceptions about sexual relations. As an activist, she continues to break the silence surrounding taboo topics in Armenia while championing the right to information.
Theresa, 30, grew up in Vanadzor but eventually left her hometown in search of new experiences. She moved to China to teach English, pushing herself beyond her comfort zone despite her fears. “As much as I like changes, I’m also scared of them, especially moving somewhere where I don’t know anyone or speak the language,” she reflects. Over time, she adapted and embraced her new life—until the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everything, leaving her jobless and confined in China.
Despite this uncertain period, Theresa found solace in self-improvement. She spent her free time listening to podcasts, watching movies, and reconnecting with friends. This time of reflection led her to question many long-held beliefs, particularly about sex education. Through conversations with friends, she discovered gaps in her knowledge––gaps that stemmed from deeply entrenched gender stereotypes, traditions and societal taboos. When non-Armenian friends asked why sex was considered taboo in her country, she would instinctively respond, “That’s how it’s supposed to be; we have rules to abide by.” But deep down, she felt ashamed and confused. “I was 24 years old,” she remembers thinking. “Why do I think this way?”
This realization marked a turning point. Theresa recognized both the stigma surrounding sex education in Armenia and society’s widespread dismissal of its importance. Driven to create change, she launched an anonymous Instagram account called “girlonamute” in 2020. Wary of potential backlash from Armenians, she maintained her anonymity while sharing educational content from books and podcasts. “I realized I wasn’t alone,” she explains. “Many Armenians had the same questions I did, and I felt the need to educate them.”
In Armenia, sex education remains a deeply taboo subject, unspoken in families, schools and public discourse. Traditional values and societal expectations frame discussions about sexuality as shameful and inappropriate. Many Armenian parents avoid discussing the topic with their children, believing silence preserves purity and upholds cultural norms. Rather than offering dedicated sex education courses, schools delegate the subject to Physical Education teachers, who must incorporate it into Healthy Lifestyle sessions. This leaves adolescents with limited knowledge as they navigate issues of sexual health, relationships and consent. Misinformation and stigma consequently persist, creating barriers to vital information about reproductive health and well-being. In this culture of silence, those who challenge the status quo—particularly women—often face backlash, making it even more difficult to advocate for change.
For a year, Theresa carefully concealed her identity. She knew Armenian women rarely spoke openly about sex and their bodies, and she feared negative reactions. Though her goal was to present sex education as essential and beneficial, she worried that revealing herself would make her vulnerable to criticism. “At first, I didn’t want to be the face of the account,” she says. “I just wanted to provide information, so I would post a picture of a tree and write about anal sex.” Her anonymity sparked people’s curiosity and increased engagement. “I broke down certain topics, and people started sharing the content,” she notes.
A challenge she faced was the lack of Armenian-language terminology for sex education. Though she frequently listened to Russian podcasts featuring doctors, she struggled to find Armenian equivalents for many terms. “Even though I speak other languages, I wanted to learn this information in my native language,” she says. Most Armenian-language articles were poor translations from English or Russian, making it difficult to access accurate information.
While her content gained traction and support from friends and advocates of sex education, Theresa faced resistance from her own family. After a year of running the account, when she finally felt ready to reveal her identity, she first wanted her family’s approval. Their reaction was disheartening. “When I showed my grandmother the account, she asked me to delete it and never speak of it again,” she recalls. Her mother disapproved too, urging her to focus on other topics. Yet over time, her mother’s attitude shifted, especially after meeting some of Theresa’s supporters at her workplace in Vanadzor. This unexpected validation provided her the encouragement she needed.
Her family’s opposition was only one hurdle––she also faced an onslaught of hate speech. As her account “girlonamute” grew steadily, attracting mostly women and anonymous followers, it also drew the ire of conservative Armenians who disapproved of her content. Many reported her account, eventually leading to its deactivation. Theresa believes that revealing her identity played a role in this backlash. “People got used to reading the words,” she explains, “but they weren’t ready to hear them.” As her reels reached a broader audience, aggressive and hateful comments flooded her posts. “I take constructive criticism seriously,” she says, “but if someone starts their comment with ‘You’re ugly,’ that’s not criticism—it’s just hate.”
When the negative comments escalated, Instagram shut down “girlonamute.” Unwilling to be silenced, Theresa launched a new account in 2023, renaming it “girlunmuted” to signify her resilience. “I changed the name to show them that I am no longer on mute and came back with new information,” she explains. Unfortunately, this account also faced mass reporting and was shut down within months.
Theresa also faced skepticism about her qualifications and authority to educate others on such a sensitive topic. With a background in linguistics rather than medicine, many questioned her ability to discuss sex education. However, Theresa is transparent about her knowledge sources––extensive research through books, podcasts and expert materials. She maintains that while formal credentials have value, information should not be restricted, particularly in a society lacking sex education. “I had the information in English and translated it into Armenian so people could find the material in the account easily,” Theresa says. Like other influencers who address topics beyond their academic training, she believes thorough research and genuine dedication to informing others can spark important conversations.
But, the repeated setbacks devastated her. As she repeatedly lost content and had to rebuild from scratch, she questioned the worth of her efforts. Yet her supporters reminded her of her impact. Encouraged by their messages, she decided to try again. Today, she manages her third account––still named “girlunmuted”––determined to continue her work. “I wanted to give up, but my followers proved the opposite,” she says, finding meaning in knowing she had changed even ten people’s lives.
Despite ongoing resistance, “girlunmuted” has built a dedicated following across different age groups and genders in Armenia, with many recognizing the significance of Theresa’s work. Nico Galstian, a young Armenian supporter, highlights that her content goes beyond sex education to address broader societal issues. “Her goal is to create a society where people prioritize themselves, understand and appreciate their bodies, and challenge outdated customs to live on their own terms,” he explains. Another follower, Diana Tigranyan, underscores the cultural barriers Theresa is breaking. “Armenians hold very traditional views on these topics, but she is dismantling stereotypes through education,” she says. Diana also stresses the importance of basic health awareness, particularly regular gynecological check-ups—one of Theresa’s frequent topics. “People resist this because they think such matters should remain secret,” she adds.
Theresa Panchoyan’s activism demonstrates the power of education and resilience in the face of societal resistance. Despite opposition from her own family and others, she continues to challenge taboos and share essential knowledge about sexual health and well-being. Her story illustrates the vital need for accessible information and the bravery needed to advocate for change. While challenges remain, her growing community of supporters shows that change is possible—one conversation at a time.
Although changing things one conversation, child, school, and so on, at a time has not proven as effective as it once was thought, it could certainly be an important part of the process of societal change.
Thank you for writing this important article, and introducing the topic and the person behind it to your readers.
Good work. Best wishes.