If We Know Their Names, Are Women Safer?
September 7, 2026
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From island life to diaspora journeys, Cocoa & Coconut celebrates the beauty, brilliance and complexity of Caribbean womanhood.
Stories, conversations and new reads from across the Caribbean and diaspora. Straight to your inbox.
A public sex offenders registry could give women and families more information. But real safety goes beyond a list of names — it also depends on reporting, accountability, survivor support and prevention.
Strong. Resourceful. Bold. Peaceful. Ambitious. Full of flavour. Caribbean womanhood isn’t one thing. That’s exactly what makes it so beautiful.
Sometimes life doesn’t unfold the way we imagined. This personal story explores what it means to face an unexpected change, let go of the original plan and find the courage to begin again.
Writing Savannah proved to me that having an authentic voice and a story that demands to be told is the ultimate qualification.
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Saint Lucia’s new EC$1,000 newborn grant is about more than financial support. It raises a bigger question: what responsibility should Caribbean governments have in supporting women as they become mothers?
Single motherhood wasn’t the ending she imagined. Leah Wildman reflects on choosing peace, rebuilding her life, and discovering that leaving can also be an act of love.
What if Caribbean fashion isn’t just about what we wear—but how we choose to wear it? Shaquel “SHA” Lionel challenges convention, celebrating personal style, confidence and the stories our clothing tells.
For many Gen Z women, marriage and motherhood no longer feel like inevitable milestones. This piece explores the fears, pressures and changing expectations shaping how a younger generation views both.
There are many reasons why women are afraid of being close to men. There are many
reasons why we think we cannot be friends. Those reasons deserve to be acknowledged.
Saint Lucia’s new EC$1,000 newborn grant is about more than financial support. It raises a bigger question: what responsibility should Caribbean governments have in supporting women as they become mothers?
We plan for tomorrow as though it’s guaranteed—until life reminds us otherwise. Jackie Bennett reflects on why protecting the people and future we cherish is one of the greatest acts of love.
A public sex offenders registry could give women and families more information. But real safety goes beyond a list of names — it also depends on reporting, accountability, survivor support and prevention.
Sometimes life doesn’t unfold the way we imagined. This personal story explores what it means to face an unexpected change, let go of the original plan and find the courage to begin again.
Heartbreak was only the beginning. In Becoming My Own Hero, Rachel Bernard shares the journey of rebuilding her confidence, reclaiming her voice, and discovering that the greatest strength she would ever find was already within her.
Why are unmarried, childless women still treated as though their lives require explanation? This piece examines the judgement, assumptions and relentless questions women face simply for living outside society’s expected timeline.
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In a world that rarely slows down, stories invite us to pause. This Editor’s Letter explores the quiet courage of honesty, the beauty of becoming, and why Cocoa & Coconut is committed to holding space for the stories Caribbean women carry.
There are so many versions of Caribbean womanhood. I want Cocoa & Coconut to be a place where all of those versions have room to exist.
I thought I was returning to a place. Instead, I found myself returning to parts of me I’d never truly understood. This is a story about grief, identity and coming home in unexpected ways.
Sometimes the thing we long for doesn’t exist—until we decide to build it ourselves. This is the story behind Cocoa & Coconut and the vision that inspired its creation.
What if success wasn’t measured by exhaustion? This reflection questions hustle culture and explores what it means to build a life that leaves room to breathe, rest and simply be.
What began as a hairstyle became something much deeper. This is a reflection on identity, change and embracing the woman I was slowly becoming.
Starting over isn’t a sign you’ve failed—it’s often a sign you’ve finally become honest about what you want. A reflection on reinvention, courage and embracing a new chapter.
Living across the Caribbean taught me that home isn’t always one place. It’s found in shared stories, familiar warmth and the connections that stretch across our islands.
