Okay, this is not the kind of thing I usually write about. I’d like to apologise to those who find this a little squeamish, off-topic, weird, so-old-news (or, like myself, find this just kind of daft). But I have an opinion, and that’s what this blog sometimes foregrounds.
I don’t care whether you shave your legs. Or if you dye your hair, choose to put fake hair in, tattoo your body, shape your eyebrows or wax whatever you like. You shouldn’t care if I do either – as far as I’m concerned, that’s an individual’s business and whether if it stems from a range of reasons from body-image issues or a desire to express yourself creatively using yourself as your canvas – that’s your thing to deal with.
I’m perfectly okay with choosing not to tattoo myself and I enjoy the occasional adjustments to my hair colour, and piercing my ears so I can wear some nice pearls on occasion. Call it ‘vanilla’ if you like – my appearance probably is fairly standard for the Western world. While I do worry about body-image issues in general and consider supporting self-esteem for all people is vital – you can’t assume that every adjustment is due to being unhappy with one’s appearance.
…But if people are going to do things to their bodies, at least know the correct names for parts of your anatomy?
The Bryce Gruber Vajazzling Adventure: Annotated Edition – Black Books:
What is vajazzling? Last month, in an interview for Lopez Tonight, Jennifer Love Hewitt explained the phenomenon well: “I pay someone to glue JEWELS all over my VAGINA…swarofski crystals, specifically…lots of them…glued to my vagina.” [Ed. note: I prefer the term vagina-jewel-gluing, not vajazzling, because I am an adult and do not need to invent nursery rhyme words for things that people do to their genitals. But, as always, the universe has voted and the correct terminology, it seems, is vajazzling.]
…“This is the spa where I had jewels glued to the top of my vagina. See that drawing of a girl? Look how happy she is! That is because she has many vagina jewels.”
Spotted the error already – yes?
If not, *sigh*, then here’s the quibble. Go to the very informative site Scarleteen and be aware that you’re going to be faced with some explicit but important information about women’s bodies. Bookmark this site if you’re a person with questions about sex, sexuality and so forth and want to learn (need to learn!) more.
My first response when I read this article? I’m going to quote Mur Lafferty, from an essay she did for Dragon*Con 2006, about gaining some knowledge about the location of certain anatomical features of women’s bodies. You have been warned.
From Michael and Evo’s Wingin’ It #75: at the 27.57 min mark:
“Let’s talk about the lady-parts.
I am a writer. I want to say that men do not know where the lady-parts are. So I am going to tell you.
[overheard fellow podcaster: "Please don't hold back!"]
“The vagina is NOT the entirety of the lady-parts. The vagina is the corridor towards the birth canal. Guess what? If you see a woman naked, it’s unlikely you can see her vagina unless she’s lying on her back and spreading.
The clit is the little button in front. Yeah, yeah – you ALL say that you know that, BUT YOU DON’T!!!!
(a quick aside – I’m not pointing at my husband…)
Trust me. If you are a man, and you have a lady-partner? Just ask her where her clit is. If she laughs and says ‘You don’t need to know,’ go buy yourself a beer – because you deserve it!
If she says ‘Good lord, I’m so glad you finally asked,’ you will deserve a beer – once you learn!”
On that note, please people – feel free to decorate and enjoy your bodies as you like. But know your anatomy. Thank you Mur Lafferty for illustrating that point so well!
If you have any further questions after listening to the entire episode – I suggest you keep up with the news with the likes of Dr Petra – What’s going on with sex education in the UK? That’s another must-read that might very well have implications internationally.
Then you deserve to check out this picture of another well-known skeptic podcaster impersonating a clitoris with a jacket and their head.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
LOVE IT!! And that article annoyed me so much, what is it with this childish ‘vayjay’ garbage? Are we all three-years old?
Do we guess who the guy is impersonating a clitoris?
I guess, but I think everyone knows what the person is talking about when they use the inaccurate anatomy term. If people want to start finding something to be outraged about by taking words literally, they’re going to be outraged all the time.
This reminds me of when people say America and someone just has to show how smart they are by pointing out that the USA is not all of the Americas. Context tells what the speaker is referring to.
Better start yelling at all those kids who say there’s a baby in their mommy’s tummy too. Get it right, kid!!!!
I’m more making a comment about the general lack of knowledge that might also stem from a ‘shame’ attitude? I’m not into shaming women for their genitals, or saying that we should judge people because they want to be creative. Far as I can see, this practice hurts no one (although I wouldn’t do it myself!). However, it does reflect something that I do think should be better known, an understanding of one’s body and being educated about it. Not so much ‘outrage’ as ‘let’s use this as an example’. Sod it, may as well say what we mean. Why be coy? Children have an excuse, do adults?
My son got in trouble at school, in his Class Allegedly Specifically Designed For Autistic-Spectrum Kids, for saying, “My mommy has a vagina.” The teacher seemed shocked that I did not share his concern and in fact replied, “Well– yeah, I do.” What is the big deal, people?
Heh – remember ‘Kindergarten Cop’, where a child saying that was a running gag?
So its not a precious? I have news for the ex!
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