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#Vagina Envy

Simone King
May 19, 2016
4 min read

We all have them. That special packaged gift that hides below our waist and above our knees.

But have you ever wondered…"Is my vagina suppose to look like that?"

It all started with a ladies night-in. A friend of mine was set to have her first appointment with a new gynecologist. Judging by her peeked brows and the worried expression plastered on her face, she looked down-right nervous. So as any good friend would, I bombarded her with questions until she blurted out "I'm afraid that the doctor will think my vagina looks weird!" Shocked and confused I asked why she felt that way, and she began to address her battle with what I've now come to call <<Vagina Envy>>.

For as long as she could remember, she thought her vagina was abnormal. It didn’t look like any of the diagrams she'd seen in health class or any of the ones in adult films. Worrying about it for years had made her the queen of avoiding change rooms and now the thought of a medical professional looking at her lady parts terrified her. After a quick google search I realized that my friend had a point. Realistic depictions of female genitalia in health texts, journals and even diagrams are few far between. Why? I wondered. To answer that question we first have to clear up a few things...

The problem exists in the name or lack thereof. The word "Vagina" according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is "a canal in a female mammal that leads from the uterus to the external orifice." This means that no woman has actually seen her own vagina. #MINDBLOWN

The part that we see and refer to as the vagina, is actually the Vulva. This includes such wonderful components as the Labia minora, Labia majora and the Clitoris (Please see diagram below).

Although my google search allowed me to quickly clear up this misnomer, I was unable to find any scholarly articles that addressed when or why we began referring to vulvas as vaginas in the first place. Nonetheless, I was able to uncover a few theories:

Blame the Doctors!

As society grew to embrace Medicine as a Science, much of the terminology used by medical professionals were adopted into mainstream use. It's possible that the word vagina is just one such medical term that became a part of the popular vernacular.

Vagina is just more fun to say...in public

There are an array of slang terms that are used to describe the vulva today. Although some are playful others have taken on a derogatory meaning, intended to demean and insult. The term Vagina has a more acceptable connotation that I believe is linked to its medical origins.

Ignorance is bliss.

Women's health has largely been controlled by government groups and politicians. Unfortunately throughout history many of these groups have been predominantly male based. Essentially the majority of the policies, terminology and discussions surrounding women's health and reproduction has been handled by the opposite sex. Some argue, that lack of understanding or willingness to properly address the female anatomy emphasizes the role that ignorance has played in the current policies surrounding women's reproductive rights.

So what's the big deal? Does the name really matter?

Dr. Mithu Sanyal, author of VULVA, a cultural history of the vulva, argues that our ideas about the body are governed by words. According to her, "Language is connected to our perception of the world. What we can't name, we can't talk about, and ultimately, can't think about." With the rising number of women seeking cosmetic surgery to "pretty-up" their lady parts, it's essential that we not only acknowledge the vulva's existence but properly name it.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Harriet Lerner believes "Language can be as powerful and swift as the surgeon's knife. What is not named does not exist." As body image is not limited to weight, we need to emphasize and appreciate the female body for its uniqueness. This includes the parts that are below the waist. The significance of naming has been addressed in a number of Studies, which have shown that teaching young girls the correct name for their vulva is linked to greater Body acceptance and self confidence.

When women are willing to spend thousands of dollars surgically removing healthy body parts and feel compelled to hide their bodies out of shame, it becomes clear just how important it is to correctly address this specific area of the body. There is power in a name and shame in silence. My hope is that this post will spark some much needed dialogue. As well as promote a more holistic view of the body positive movement. With 97% of women having an "I hate my body" moment every single day, why not do everything we can to transform that loathing into love?

The best discussions happen below in the comments. Once you've had a chance to read, I'd love to know.

Have you ever experienced vagina/ body envy? What can women and health professionals do to reduce the stigma surrounding the vulva and women's sexual health?

How can you use today's discussion to make your thoughts, words and views regarding your body positive? Leave a comment below and let us know.

Don't forget, sharing is caring. Many amazing females visit here each week for inspiration and insight, your words may be exactly what someone needs to read to make it through their day. Thank you so much for reading, sharing and adding to the dialogue.