3 minute readThis is perhaps not surprising; modern society is still coming to terms with embracing human sexuality, especially when it comes to the female body (not surprising is not the same as O.K.). Is it that people are worried that saying it too many times will cause one (or many) to suddenly appear in front of them in a Beetlejuice like manner?
We still have a way to go though, as people are still avoiding the use of the word ‘vagina’ and choosing to use less ‘blushable’ alternatives. We’ve seen literally hundreds of nicknames for a woman’s private region. All you need to do is Google “nicknames for vagina” and you will be inundated with Buzzfeed-style articles joyously listing them off. Here are just a few we’ve cherry-picked for your amusement:
Honey Pot
Hoo-ha
Love Taco
The Vajinator
Front bum
Muffin
The problem is, the more we tip-toe around the word, the less we actually talk about vaginas. It seems that the embarrassment so many women experience is stopping them from discussing any concerns with doctors.
Women wait on average more than five years if have a pelvic floor related problem, and when it comes to the more sinister health issues, this time can make a big difference. For example, over 90% of women diagnosed with the earliest stage of ovarian cancer survive their disease for at least 5 years compared to around 5% for women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of disease.
The Gynaecological Cancer Fund decided to do something about this. They aim to ignite more and more vagina-related conversations with their #SilentNoMore Lady Garden Campaign. They are encouraging us all to take ownership and be proud of our vaginas – a necessary and noble cause!
Having open and honest conversations will increase our awareness of our own bodies, giving us the confidence to speak up if we have any worries. We’re proud to be joining forces with the Gynaecological Cancer Fund and the Royal Marsden Hospital at Grace Belgravia to spread the word. We’ll be at donating £50 from the sale of every Elvie at their charity designer clothes sale on Thursday 12th November to this vital cause.
Thankfully, it’s not just charities realising the importance of ‘vagina talk’. We’re happy to say that a number of celebrities are also aware of the problem, and are using their fame to create more vagina conversations. Jessica Biel, Whitney Cummings and Joy Bryant have come together to create a hilarious and important series entitled “If You Don’t Tell Them, Then Who Will?”
In case the title didn’t make it clear, the three use the series to discuss a multitude of topics including vaginas, periods and contraception. Their surprisingly honest conversations are exactly what we need to show the world that they better get used to the vagina, because it’s here to stay and it’s got a lot to say (although not literally!).