Vulva Acceptance

Unlike men, women's genitals are a more covert operation. Not only are they more hidden, females are discouraged from exploring their genitalia and often go to great lengths to keep their private parts 'private'. Without any reference point for comparison - other than the photo-shopped and air-brushed vulvas of women in porn magazines - women may wonder if their genitals are 'normal'. Many don't think about their genitals at all. There's often a real disconnect between a woman's feminine identity and that nether region between her legs. The issue of smell and taste is also a concern.

So how do women begin claiming, celebrating, and connecting to their genitals? First off, they need to know what they look like. It was back in the early days of the feminist movement when women were first encouraged to get out their mirrors and take a close look at their genitals. The advice is still sound. Women's genitals come in lots of shapes and sizes, and symmetry is not always the rule. Because there's lots of variation in the layout of the outer and inner labia, as well as the appearance of the clitoris, 'normal' has little meaning. Women need to accept their genitals as they are if they are going to have a healthy sexual identity.

Tomorrow I'll tackle the issues of smell and taste.