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redqueen

(115,096 posts)
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 01:31 PM Feb 2012

Vaginal dissatisfaction exposes a lack of diversity in sex education

NSFW pic at the site.

http://www.about-face.org/vaginal-dissatisfaction-exposes-a-lack-of-diversity-in-sex-education/

I’m still trying to scoop my jaw off of my keyboard after viewing this documentary, The Perfect Vagina, in which UK-based writer Lisa Rogers delves into the world of vaginal cosmetic surgery.

(snip)

Although the practice of labiaplasty and other surgeries, often lumped under the umbrella of ”vaginal rejuvenation”, are gaining more media hype, they’re certainly not as pronounced as, say, breast augmentation. But this is certainly not a trend to ignore, as more and more women are seeking “designer vaginas.”

While there’s no single culprit for this fascination with vaginal aesthetics, a recent Ms. Magazine article raises the issue that sex education materials don’t show pictures of genitalia, leaving female students to rely on the distorted images of the media to see if their vaginas measure up.

A recent New York Times feature, “Teaching Good Sex,” agrees that sex education materials need to teach young people, among many things, “what real genitals look like.” The images most teens are exposed to come from the porn industry, creating a phenomenon researchers at King’s College London call the “pornification” of modern culture. These images, fully shaved and uniform in shape and size, leave no room for natural and normal variance. And, there’s nothing but trouble when the media is left to dictate what “normal” looks like.

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Vaginal dissatisfaction exposes a lack of diversity in sex education (Original Post) redqueen Feb 2012 OP
I can understand that these surgeries were probably Ilsa Feb 2012 #1
I've been thinking about this... redqueen Feb 2012 #6
Shouldn't it be 'designer labia'? enlightenment Feb 2012 #2
Yes it probably should be labia... redqueen Feb 2012 #3
Don't you just love... MadrasT Feb 2012 #4
+1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 kestrel91316 Feb 2012 #5
At least they're not using slang. Neoma Feb 2012 #7
yes, but watch out--some folks here at DU are very sensitive about being asked to use correct terms. spooky3 Feb 2012 #8
Thank you and all who +'d this. It drives me nuts indeed. uppityperson Feb 2012 #9

Ilsa

(61,675 posts)
1. I can understand that these surgeries were probably
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 01:50 PM
Feb 2012

Developed to help persons with deformities and transexuals. But applying them for vanity purposes seems unethical to me. I wish doctors would refuse to do perform these procedures for this purpose.

redqueen

(115,096 posts)
6. I've been thinking about this...
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 04:28 PM
Feb 2012

I just don't know if it's necessarily unethical... are boob jobs unethical too? Nose jobs?

I do know it's very lucrative. Extremely so. Billions per year.

enlightenment

(8,830 posts)
2. Shouldn't it be 'designer labia'?
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 01:52 PM
Feb 2012

Since this type of surgery generally doesn't address the vagina (or is a general tightening up included in the procedure?).

Interesting article and viewpoint on this bizarre phenomenon. I recall, quite clearly, the first time a GYN suggested that she could give me a mirror and help identify all the parts of my genitalia, including placing the speculum so I could see my cervix. I found that an interesting, but not very useful proposal, and declined - figured I'd seen enough of my external genitalia to understand the broad view and didn't particularly want to see my cervix (any more than I wanted to see my liver or colon). To me it was all just there and as long as it was, collectively, healthy I would neither worry about it or obsess with it.

Personally (and unscientifically), I blame a lot of it on the trend for shaving the pubic area - women (and men) are seeing things that in the past were mostly covered, and they don't like what they see.

redqueen

(115,096 posts)
3. Yes it probably should be labia...
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 02:00 PM
Feb 2012

someone else said it should be vulva.

I don't find it so bizarre really... it seemed to me to be only the natural progression of cosmetic surgeries after boob jobs.

MadrasT

(7,237 posts)
4. Don't you just love...
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 02:08 PM
Feb 2012

...how everything "down there" automatically becomes "vagina" to some folks?

Makes me crazy. Some people's understanding of anatomy is seriously challenged.

spooky3

(34,302 posts)
8. yes, but watch out--some folks here at DU are very sensitive about being asked to use correct terms.
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 05:02 PM
Feb 2012

I hope none of them are in the health care industry, as they might confuse an appendix with a liver.

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