Slightly NSFW, no actual photos of vaginas here, but there are photos of ceramic vaginas, all white. Just so you know.
***
A few months ago I was watching an SBS documentary about teenage girls and their body issues relating to their vagina*. Most of the girls spoken to were ones about to undergo labiaplasty – most notably a reduction in the size of their labia minora.
I was a bit astounded at girls wanting to cut their vagina to pieces, just to make it ‘neater’ or ‘prettier’.
We followed their journey and by all accounts, none of the girls regretted the surgery. We won’t talk about lost nerve endings, or loss of sensation or any of the other things that they might have and not know about. How do you tell when something is missing?
Part of the problem, I think, is that women don’t get to see vaginas very often. Of course, we’ve all probably had some access to porn, but porn stars aren’t exactly portrayals of real female beauty anyway, are they? Not to mention I’m hearing rumours that a good portion of porn stars have had labiaplasty anyway, and that girls in magazines have their vaginas airbrushed, so that only the labia majora can been seen.
The documentary stayed with me, rattling around in the back of my brain where I keep my ‘issues to get upset about when I’ve got time’ folder.
When I went to MONA, I was thrilled to pieces to see a wall of vaginas. All shapes and sizes, wobbly labia and all.
Called ‘Cunts… And Other Conversations’ by artist Greg Taylor and friends, it contains 150 sculpted vaginas, all different and all brilliantly done.
Models ranged in age from 18 to 78 and came from all kinds of religious backgrounds.
Xanya Mamunya is a harpist who features among the works. She says of the modelling process, “It was empowering because I am from a generation that never even looked down there. I wasn’t even told about the menstrual cycle until I thought I was bleeding to death. Modelling for the exhibition made me feel that I was part of something that I think is very important – for everyone.”
It’s a bit disconcerting to walk along a hallway whose main feature is something we’re taught not to look at too closely, but it was also really interesting. Like penises, no two vaginas are the same and honestly, I’m not sure why we’d expect them to be.
Sadly it would seem that glossy magazines have been our go-to guide for women to try and discover what is normal, and glossy magazines are about as far removed from reality as you can get.
I think that every teenage girl should get to look at the huge range of normal, because looking at Cunts… And Other Conversations, all I am struck by is that there is no such thing as normal. We’re all unique and that can only be a good thing.
My only complaint is that we need a sister exhibition of 150 penises, to showcase ‘normal’ for men.
*Yes, I know the technical term is vulva, but I found it easier to use ‘common language’ for this post.
They should tour it around highschools
Yes, they should. Although I’m sure some parents would screech about it – exposure to vaginas might tempt their poor children into looking at their own bits.
This is great. A guy in England did a documentary about pensis and basically went around the country talking to men about it and he got together a gallery of polaroid pics taken – trying to change the idea of normal. I’ll see if I can find the link though I a a bit nervous to google it…
I saw that too! It was fantastic I thought. So good to see people trying to change the perception of normal.
The one about vaginas was also an English doco, probably the same production team!
Haha, one of those looks just like mine! I found as a teenager I was self conscious blah blah blah. Then one day I was on a
Piercing website and clicked on genital piercings and
Wow!!
Aside from the metal bits, piercing websites show everything, very good representations of differences and that not having a tiny pink hairless vulva is totally normal!
Yay for vag!
Yay for vag! And for piercing websites. Hehe.
I can’t say I ever took anything onboard as the norm from porn but hey, kids these days may be cut from a different cloth!
Totally agree with G though, this is something that should definitely be shown to high school kids. High time they realise that Brazilians and designer vaginas are *not* cool.
As always, love your work V!
x
No, I didn’t either, but there is this perception of a tiny slit being ‘normal’ rather than (most likely) customised.
And we won’t talk about what happens once you’ve had babies vaginally!
I had an ex-boyfriend who was quite cruel about the “size” of my vagina. He used to say really nasty things and it really bothered me, I even started looking in to cosmetic surgery (thankfully I ditched HIM and the idea of plastic surgery). I knew there was nothing wrong with my vagina, but he seemed to want this bizzare pornography ideal (it was also a requirement of our relationship that I got all the hair waxed off too!).
Thankfully I’m now with someone who doesn’t care what it looks like or how hairy it is as long as I’m generous with the lovin’ 😛
But yes, very seriously issue and I urge all mothers of daughters out there to talk to their daughters about this!
I’m glad you ditched him! One of the girls who underwent a reduction had had a similar experience, the only difference was, being a teenage boy, when the breakup occured, the rumours went around the school. I can’t imagine how hard that must of been for her, or for you.
It was dehumanising. I was made to feel as though I was nothing but a vagina, it effected our sex life and he made me feel like it was my fault. He would actually refuse to bring me orgasm because my vagina was “like a wolverine”. Awful. But he has some pretty serious issues and I’m much better off, much happier and having many more orgasms without him.
That is terrible.
Yeah, he was pretty terrible, but I woke up and got out. Unfortunately I think men are just as affected by images in pornography because they end up with silly ideals about what their girlfriends vagina should look like.
When I was learning about body stuff, the only thing we new about vaginas was a black and white drawn diagram of what this is, what that is. And you’re right, the only place people can *see* what different vaginas look like is by looking at porn, which as you’ve mentioned have probably been reshaped anyway.
I too read glossy mags growing up and one thing I did notice and commended was an article with a whole page of different size/shape breasts, showing that everyone has different breasts. It’s very reassuring, knowing that there is no ‘normal’ and we are all unique, and fine the way we are.
I think Labiaplasty for cosmetic reasons is a very silly idea.
Yep, same thing here. Diagrams aren’t quite the same as reality, heh.
[Edited to remove an incorrect statement about laws. Should research completely before I type, hehe]
Did you know they can’t actually show labia minora in skin mags because of classification issues?
It’s not illegal for them to show labia minora – it’s just that the classification board chooses to interpret the guidelines in such a way that depictions of labia minora are refused classification. Splitting hairs, perhaps – but I think it’s an important distinction. Changing this requires changing the behaviour of the classification board, not changing the law.
The ABC show Hungry Beast had a great story about this last year, and they posted extended versions of all their interviews online: http://hungrybeast.abc.net.au/stories/labiaplasty
Thanks for pointing that out John, splitting hairs is more than welcome when it makes things more clear! I’ll edit the comment above to reflect that.
Excellent post! I, too, have been quietly upset by designer bits and the enormous gulf between magazine/web images and the diversity in real life. The trend for “small, neat, pretty” is alarming.
Alarming in the extreme. I think it comes back to laws, skin mags aren’t allowed to show labia minora. Which is frankly, pretty shocking.
I think sone people need to realise though that labiaplasty isn’t just about the look. Some people need to undergo such a procedure because the length of the labia can make sense and everyday things like wearing jeans extremely painful
I can understand that too, it was mentioned briefly in the doco I watched, by the doctor doing the surgeries that some women did need a reduction for physical reasons, not cosmetic ones – and I’ll say that I support that totally.
Also, longest run on sentence ever. Whoops!
I loved seeing this at MONA, too! And out of 150, I still couldn’t find one quite like mine. Totally agree with you that there needs to be a Cocks and Other Conversations too.
Neither could I. Proves that normal encompasses just about everything.
Hmmm. lol. I can’t see why you would want to have surgery for cosmetic reasons, it’s not like a lot of people see your vajayjay unless you’re a porn star? Or I suppose a life drawing model?
I’d like to take my partner to see 150 penis’s on a wall! 🙂
I think it has to do with self image, more than worrying about other people – but then, like Iggy Crash above, her Ex was an arsehole. So really, a lot of factors would weigh into WHY girls get it done. The thing is, they shouldn’t feel they *need* to.
I had no idea that labiaplasty was so prevalent. That’s a scary trend if women are choosing it for cosmetic purposes. I couldn’t imagine having surgery on my vag just for some guy’s jollies. Yes, I hope our society can get to a point where looking at body parts isn’t such an alarming thing.
I couldn’t imagine doing it for cosmetic reasons either – although physical reasons are a whole different ballgame, obviously.
I’ve heard of heard of this kind of cosmetic surgery too and I think there needs to be a lot more discussion on it to make women aware of what is and isn’t ‘normal’.
Have you ever seen the show Embarrassing Bodies”? It’s on late night on channel 9 (on various nights). I started letting my teens watch it if they were up and it was on. At first they were very embarrassed and a bit silly at seeing bare breasts, bottoms, penises, and vulvas, but now they’re not because it is all so matter of fact and clinical. Now they’ll ask questions, and now we have discussions, and now they’ve got a better idea of what real people look like, as well as what is normal and what isn’t. Hopefully they’ll also feel more comfortable going to the doctor about problems when they are older too.
I truly think we need a good dose of reality to counter all the crap in glossy mags and on tv/internet.
I agree, lots more discussion needed. I think it’s definitely something we need to talk about our kids with.
I haven’t seen embarassing bodies, but I’ve seen things similar and they do such a good job of showing us normal. Really, we’re all normal. Hips, bums, boobs, they’re all different, so why wouldn’t vulvas and penises be just as unique?
there’s a great gallery on their website too
http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/galleries/
Thanks Beet!
This was one of the few pieces at MONA that I truly did appreciate. I encouraged my 11 year old daughter to look at them but she was more fascinated by the room opposite with all the binary numbers on it.
I remember discussion, decades ago, about innies and outies and the shame felt by the outies. Then the discovery that different lovers had varying opinions sort of left that worry sitting on a shelf, wondering why it had even created itself.
It’s great you posted some pics here. 🙂
I’ll take Amy in when she’s older too. Something that girls need to see.
Never occurred to me to either inspect mine or assume there was anything different or wrong about it when I was younger. Just a cursory look whilst tidying the foliage so it wouldn’t escape my bikini line. The first time I looked really closely was post first child and the extensive embroidery that accompanied his forceps assisted arrival. Have to say it wasn’t a particularly edifying sight then, but it did improve with time. Second baby produced some different embroidery to add to the glory that is my vulva – good job there wasn’t a third as not sure where else the stitches could have gone! Since then age has changed it further. Quite interesting really, I look on it as an artwork in progress 😉
I love the artwork in progress idea!
Every time I see this work I too dwell on the fact that there’s no male equivalent, nor could there be any male equivalent. For some reason female organs are seen as passive and not as offensive as those of a male, particularly the aroused male. It irritates me still that there are so many images, video works, photographs, paintings etc of naked females, but naked males seem far more taboo
I’m not sure, I know some people who would consider a vulva more offensive than a penis. I mean, penises are out there, swinging around in all their glory, whereas vulvas are tucked away and more private. Personally I don’t find either offensive, but that’s just me.
I have no conception as to this obsession with having the perfect fanny and seriously? WTF do girls discuss in the schoolyard at lunch,
“Oh, I got my mum’s plastic surgeon lined up to trim my twat in the next school hols.”????
Freakin’ bizarre, yes, this should tour the schools to get it through these young heads that surgery and perfection is not the answer to everything.
Yep, I agree. More vulvas in schools!
What an interesting post and comments. I have never thought about what I look like. If someone told me it was not to their liking I would tell them to take a walk – actually I would suggest they run. I find it amazing how prevalent it is for males to expect that their partner be hairless and even expect them to use surgery. Oh how I could jibber on right now but I won’t. Thanks, Wendy
I would tell them to talk a walk too! Differences are beautiful and beauty is always going to be relative.
And jibber on all you like! I like jibbering.
I used to worry about mine because the labia minora are very long, but at my first pregnancy check up, the doctor didn’t say anything so I thought I must be relatively normal. But I do feel uncomfortable sometimes when wearing tighter underwear and have even folded those lips over each other to minimise the discomfort, so if I had enough money, I would definitely get the length reduced, (not to child size) by a third.
I did once have a partner dump me because he said I wasn’t woman enough for him. When I asked what he meant, he said I don’t have enough hair down there.
I always thought that was a plus, less shaving you see.
I can understand wanting a reduction for physical reasons, for me, that’s an entirely separate issue. I bet the doctor had seen so many by that point that everything looked normal! Which is actually a great perception to hold, hehehe.
And he dumped you because of not enough hair? Jesus but I’d love to have that ‘problem’.
Great post Veronica 🙂
Thankyou! I’m glad you liked it.
Wow Veronica what an out-there post. I would never dare write about vulvas or whatever the plural may be. You are amazing. David Walsh has again promoted free expression through art. Vive la difference!
I wasn’t sure how it would be received, but figured it was something that warranted discussion, if only for the sake of the next generation of women.
Yay David Walsh!
Thank you so much for this. I’d like to see the whole museum, but this especially.
I think the museum is so beautiful. Come. Visit.
I like this, should be a must-see for every teenage girl, with one for boys too!
Definitely!!
I’ve always considered glossy magazines poisonous in terms of outer body image (we don’t have them in the house because I hate them, I much prefer a copy of Kerrang or BBC Good Food if we’re going to have anything) but I’d never really considered that one day my daughter might have issues with her vulva – I rarely give mine any thought.
Thank you for this – it’s a very good food for thought post. I agree with Marylin, a must-see for both girls and boys.
I agree and also, the magazines in my house are all foodie based too! Hehe.
I’d never much considered mine, beyond a cursory glance, but I had friends who were worried about theirs and we discussed it a bit. One girl who wished she could cut bits off and ‘neaten’ it up.
wow loads of comments on this one. Am behind on my reader so commenting may be all over the place Veronica so apologies for that. I like Louisa saw the documentary she mentioned albeit some time ago so not sure it would still be available. The trouble with documentaries like this is that whilst they highlight a problem which my guess is affects a minority of young girls. I worry also that it will prompt more to question their natural make up. It is of great concern that pubescent teenagers are so consumed by their own body image that they are considering surgery for breast enhancement surgery etc. before they are even women. It is a sad thing that society has become so consumed and indoctrinated by percieved perfection that has been imposed on an innocent society by a careless media whose prolific use of airbrushing/body doubles etc that normality is in fact a mirage nowadays. There is a politician in the UK whose name I cannot remember who is working tirelessly to ensure that if an image has been airbrushed or adapted that it should have a comment big enough to read to indicate that this is the case. Although the other thing that is a worry that pornography and the degradation of women generally is so available generally. I feel strongly though that the onus is on the parent to ensure their offspring are not subjected to innapropriate stuff via the internet, and this can be done via parental controls to a certain extent and also proper communication with one’s teenagers irrespective of their sex. I talked a lot to both of my kids who are now adults, about body image, the media, pornography etc. This post brings up so many issues that are important in todays society. I was listening to a programme here in the UK this weekend on the effect the media, social networking, mobile phones etc. has on the youth of today and that it is common is some social groups to without the girls consent to record intercourse on mobile phones to be shared amongst males within a group. The girls seemed amazingly complacent and yet aware that it wasn’t right. it is shocking to know that the youth in our countries are experiencing social pressures regarding their bodies which thankfully I was simply not exposed to. I am sure I have seen a short piece somewhere although I just cannot remember where or when on just the subject you have raised including the amazing work you have given us a glimpse of.
Interestingly I remember a boyfriend many years ago (this is quite hard for me to admit for obvious reasons mainly my own piety?) that I had a big clitoris. I was hung up on this in a private way for quite a while, until I met my husband and told him this having never spoken to anyone ever. He was so reassuring and kind that my worries disolved. Despite this inner insecurity I would never have dreamt of contemplating surgery.
I do think this it is wonderful that the artist has done this as it highlights in what initially to some may be a shocking way a problem that unless society recognises that the youth of today (of both sexes) are suffering with massive insecurities unless they are ‘perfect’. Perhaps this is one reason there has been a massive increase in self harm. Although I am loathe to write in detail about self harm or eating disorders etc. in case there is a trigger. Although I have written a rider at the top of my comment that I have mentioned this so that anyone who actively avoids can do so.
I know Veronica I have written a lot and also strayed off topic immensly but I think your post highlights so much that needs to be addressed. I know that indeed I have been guilty as a parent of saying too often that I am pissed off with this or that aspect of my body despite endeavouring not to do so. I am far too body conscious as I had a mother who definitely had an eating disorder and even now when I am forty six will comment if I so much as put on a pound or so. She did not talk at all of sex, periods or anything related to positive body image so I imagine the self loathing someone must go through to have the surgery you describe must be so distressing. I also think that some responsibility lies with the surgeons who perform such surgery as it should be explained that every woman is unique and that to mess with nature’s gifts is plain wrong. It should be compulsory I think that any young woman considering this surgery should undergo a period of counselling before consent is given. If only real women could rise up and scream from the tree tops – love yourselfs as you are for you are fantastic. This is why this piece is so so good and thank you Veronica for raising it, as you can see from my very very long response I feel so strongly about it.
I also know of a woman who is in her late seventies now who suffered severe damage giving birth to her labia and surrounds, so much so that sexual intercourse for the duration of her married life was painful as was sitting for long periods of time etc. It was only when she was cathaterised for an unrelated reason that anyone medical mentioned it and she was given corrective surgery. She had never even mentioned it to her husband.
There are also good works being done with corrective surgery where in a certain part of the world young girls are forced to marry so young and have children that they actually suffer the most terrible fissures, due to the work of one female doctor these girls are having corrective surgery to help them lead a normal life without the embarrassment, extreme pain, incontinence and cultural rejection that living with the fissures left unoperated causes. Perhaps some of the young women who are contemplating cosmectic corrective surgery should be made to watch documentaries such as this in the vague hope that they would be able to see that indoctrination from a society whose values it seems to me have gone somewhat awry when they are prepared to undergo unnecessary operations for the sake of vanity? Perhaps some of the money which would be spent on the surgery could be donated to the very worthwhile cause mentioned. I guess by now Veronica you realise you have really blogged about something I feel very strongly about and I am sorry about the long post but you have raised an issue which is indicative of a society that values perfection and uniformity of the female form that is based on a model that in fact is not only degrading to women but also so shallow so very shallow. I watched a programme only last night with my 20 year old daughter who just could not believe that girls were getting so much surgery including bum implants to be video hotties – girls basically who will do anything to have the image required for hip hop? rapping videos which is a whole other area which needs addressing. Youngsters being exposed so young, to images of woman that basically show them as nothing more than sex objects.
I am not pious at all by the way to anyone who hasn’t got to know me already through the blogoshere. I am just an ordinary mother who watches a world that seems to have become obsessed with perfection and as Veronica has pointed out so so well this is making young girls take extreme decisions about their bodies which I think is actually a violation.
Veronica I have gone on and on and I doubt whether the comment box will allow me to post such a long one. I know some of what I have said is disjointed and am sorry. I just think you have brought up such an important issue and applaud and admire you for having the tenacity to use real language, post images that many would not feel comfortable with. If just one young woman is touched by your post and realises that she is just fine how she is, it will be worth it.
Well I am going to hit submit otherwise I will bottle out of commenting. So big apology for grammatical/spelling errors etc
Veronica please don’t hesitate to delete the comment if you wish. I genuinely believe all that I have written but acknowledge that I am at the very top of my pain relief so my words may be somewhat jumbled.
I love your comments, always.
And I understand exactly what you’re saying.
The pressure to be hairless is HUGE. There was conversation on the Gruen Transfer last year that most young guys (aged around 20) these days wouldn’t have seen (or been with) a woman that has pubic hair. Scary!!
I know, isn’t that scary? I can’t imagine the pressure and the time/effort put into maintaining it. And really, we have hair for a reason!
I say if the guy wants his girl bald then he wants a little girl.
Women have hair. I admit to ‘cleaning up and maintaining’ down there, but that is for ME and no one else.
I told my girls that if a guy asks them to wax it all off, he goes first.
That is a very good suggestion. Hehehe.
There was a documentary I watched a few years ago, and this guy had men come in and take a photo of their penis. He then made a gallery out of it and invited them back to view all the images. I think it was called “Snap Your Chap” It was about self image for males. I think it was on Channel 4 in the UK.
I saw that over here too, thought it was brilliant.
I have never understood this labia reduction thing. What the?! Who even knows what is considered a too large vulva/labia?
I can see why women would get a reduction if it causes discomfort, or other physical issues, but cosmetic reasons are a bit beyond me. Maybe it’s just because I know how uncomfortable stitches down there are.
I can’t believe that surgeries that are being fought against in other parts of the world are being sought after in the western world. I mean, not complete FMG, but close.
All beautiful. Every one.
I find that scary too. What happened to our power as women?
Wow! Such an interesting article and follow up conversations!
My eldest daughter has just turned 14. I would love her to read this but maybe she needs another year to mature.
I always love the conversation I get afterwards, it makes me think of things that I might not have.
Bookmark it?
I definitely wouldn’t look at penises for fun. I think they are ugly, but if it served a purpose, go for it. Anything that will undo the damage tv and mags do, is fine.
Whereas I would look and find them interesting! TV and mags do do a lot of damage, and it’s scary to see how poorly our self esteem is doing as a result.
awesome post! I saw that doco too and wonder if the wall of vag was from the dude in the doco?
This is a different guy, but a similar premise.
I love this! I’d go as far as to say yes, girls everywhere need to see this, but more importantly, so do boys. Young ‘men’ do the most damage to young women over this, and it’s important that the current and upcoming generations realise we’ve been sold a false ideal
I agree, definitely.
Excuse the anonymity, I just don’t want this to come back and bite me in the bum lol!
Just replying to something I read in the comments about 20-something guys only ever wanting a hairless vag.
I know that it may seem this way, but as a 19 year old, my encounters are only with guys of that age group, and while I do tend to mostly keep it maintained (rarely does it all get ripped off), I have never had a negative reaction to hair down there. And i’m half italian, so you know….
My last special friend (aged 23) and I slept together for the first time when I was totally not expecting to get laid! I hadnt even shaved my legs in about two weeks let alone my V-jayjay. It would have been a forrest down there. Yet he didnt even seem to notice, not a word, a funny look or any hesitation at all. We continued to have some fun for over a year until we decided to JUST be friends. In that time I think I was hairless maybe twice. He wasnt more or less keen even when I was bare.
Similarly, I havent had any negative comments from other guys who I have dated (all ages 18-22). My vag is no oil painting, I have uneven labia, dark colouring (olive skintone) and HAIR etc. Its not the tiny hairless pink slit that may be falsely deemed “ideal” by some.
I feel that we should give 20-something year old guys a bit more credit. Some, if not most, can and do appreciate a woman in all her glory, not just airbrushed and “perfect”.
Anonymity forgiven 🙂
Look, I haven’t had any complaints either, but girlfriends have. I think we do forget to give men credit, while we’re laying there naked thinking about our faults, they’re looking at us and going ‘OMG Naked! Beautiful!’ and that’s about it.
I know already what you are all going to say to this but I’m 18 and I really do NEED labiaplasty. My labias are really really big and you won’t believe me cos I’m a ‘teenager’ but it really is. It puts me down. Not only the way it looks but I get self conscious when I wear bikinis etc… And it can also hurt me sometimes! I can’t tell my mum about it but I want to but she will probably think I’m a weirdo or something and I’m too embarrassed to tell her I want Labiaplasty. It’s seriously putting me down though… No I’m not a slut or anything but honestly it does put me down 🙁 it can hurt a lot. They definately aren’t normal. I’m telling you.
And I know every vagina is ‘normal’ but I mean it doesnt look attractive at all and no I don’t want ‘designer labias’ … They just aren’t nice they put me down and like I said it can hurt a lot sometimes when they get caught on my knickers. They make me paranoid.
I absolutely believe that there are exceptions to every argument and every rule. I am not anti-labiaplasty by any means, in fact, I’m not anti-anything. I think if you’re uncomfortable and you want to do this for yourself, then there is no reason you shouldn’t.
I worry about the teen girls however, who would consider having labiaplasty because of a boyfriend pressuring them, or stuff like that. I would worry just as much if they were being pressured into a boob job.
Thank you for commenting with your perspective, I really appreciate it.
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