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Why we should talk about vulvas, not vaginas | Gemma Sharp | TEDxBrisbane


I’d like us to try and exercise together

I’d like us to try and exercise together in psychology when a person finds an

in psychology when a person finds an

in psychology when a person finds an object or an experience scary or

object or an experience scary or

object or an experience scary or difficult to face we gradually expose

difficult to face we gradually expose

difficult to face we gradually expose them to this object so they get used to

them to this object so they get used to

them to this object so they get used to it bit by bit and no longer fear it and

it bit by bit and no longer fear it and

it bit by bit and no longer fear it and it seems that we as a society find it

it seems that we as a society find it

it seems that we as a society find it very difficult to talk about women’s

very difficult to talk about women’s

very difficult to talk about women’s genitals in an open and honest way so

genitals in an open and honest way so

genitals in an open and honest way so I’d like us to try this exercise

I’d like us to try this exercise

I’d like us to try this exercise together now please repeat after me say

together now please repeat after me say

together now please repeat after me say vagina okay now that was easy that’s

vagina okay now that was easy that’s

vagina okay now that was easy that’s great but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t

great but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t

great but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the case for everyone here so I’d like

the case for everyone here so I’d like

the case for everyone here so I’d like to try it again please say vagina okay

to try it again please say vagina okay

to try it again please say vagina okay so that time was probably a little bit

so that time was probably a little bit

so that time was probably a little bit easier than the first but I’d like to

easier than the first but I’d like to

easier than the first but I’d like to try it again just twice more please say

try it again just twice more please say

try it again just twice more please say vagina vagina great so now you’re

vagina vagina great so now you’re

vagina vagina great so now you’re feeling a bit more comfortable saying

feeling a bit more comfortable saying

feeling a bit more comfortable saying the word vagina but what about an entire

the word vagina but what about an entire

the word vagina but what about an entire conversation on this topic and that’s

conversation on this topic and that’s

conversation on this topic and that’s where we as a society really struggle

where we as a society really struggle

where we as a society really struggle and researchers think that this lack of

and researchers think that this lack of

and researchers think that this lack of open discussion about a perfectly normal

open discussion about a perfectly normal

open discussion about a perfectly normal body part particularly around how it’s

body part particularly around how it’s

body part particularly around how it’s supposed to look may be fueling the

supposed to look may be fueling the

supposed to look may be fueling the world’s fastest growing cosmetic surgery

world’s fastest growing cosmetic surgery

world’s fastest growing cosmetic surgery trend

trend

trend labiaplasty also known as designer

labiaplasty also known as designer

labiaplasty also known as designer vagina surgery now in the united states

vagina surgery now in the united states

vagina surgery now in the united states in the last five years alone there has

in the last five years alone there has

in the last five years alone there has been a 500% increase in the number of

been a 500% increase in the number of

been a 500% increase in the number of labiaplasty x’ performed and what this

labiaplasty x’ performed and what this

labiaplasty x’ performed and what this procedure does is reduce the size of the

procedure does is reduce the size of the

procedure does is reduce the size of the inner lips of the vagina known as the

inner lips of the vagina known as the

inner lips of the vagina known as the labia minora so they no longer protrude

labia minora so they no longer protrude

labia minora so they no longer protrude beyond the outer vaginal lips known as

beyond the outer vaginal lips known as

beyond the outer vaginal lips known as the labia majora and what this does is

the labia majora and what this does is

the labia majora and what this does is creates a smooth genital surface just

creates a smooth genital surface just

creates a smooth genital surface just like a Barbie doll because as we

like a Barbie doll because as we

like a Barbie doll because as we see Barbie has no genital features

see Barbie has no genital features

see Barbie has no genital features whatsoever we also talked about this

whatsoever we also talked about this

whatsoever we also talked about this surgery colloquially as turning an

surgery colloquially as turning an

surgery colloquially as turning an outtie vagina into an innie vagina yes

outtie vagina into an innie vagina yes

outtie vagina into an innie vagina yes these aren’t just terms reserved to

these aren’t just terms reserved to

these aren’t just terms reserved to describe belly buttons anymore and while

describe belly buttons anymore and while

describe belly buttons anymore and while the medical research is gradually

the medical research is gradually

the medical research is gradually accumulating in this field because it’s

accumulating in this field because it’s

accumulating in this field because it’s still a relatively new procedure we

still a relatively new procedure we

still a relatively new procedure we still don’t know the long-term safety

still don’t know the long-term safety

still don’t know the long-term safety and efficacy like what happens to these

and efficacy like what happens to these

and efficacy like what happens to these women when they go through menopause and

women when they go through menopause and

women when they go through menopause and their vaginal tissue naturally thins and

their vaginal tissue naturally thins and

their vaginal tissue naturally thins and driers

driers

driers not to mention that labiaplasty is

not to mention that labiaplasty is

not to mention that labiaplasty is associated with some pretty serious side

associated with some pretty serious side

associated with some pretty serious side effects like infection scarring and even

effects like infection scarring and even

effects like infection scarring and even loss of sensation and so it’s pretty

loss of sensation and so it’s pretty

loss of sensation and so it’s pretty concerning that at least some women

concerning that at least some women

concerning that at least some women think that they’re perfectly healthy

think that they’re perfectly healthy

think that they’re perfectly healthy outer labia minora tissue is so

outer labia minora tissue is so

outer labia minora tissue is so unacceptable that it needs to be

unacceptable that it needs to be

unacceptable that it needs to be permanently removed through surgery

permanently removed through surgery

permanently removed through surgery in fact many girls and women have

in fact many girls and women have

in fact many girls and women have fundamental misunderstandings about

fundamental misunderstandings about

fundamental misunderstandings about their own genital appearance in case you

their own genital appearance in case you

their own genital appearance in case you weren’t sure there are actually two

weren’t sure there are actually two

weren’t sure there are actually two openings in the female genital region

openings in the female genital region

openings in the female genital region there’s the urethra where urine flows

there’s the urethra where urine flows

there’s the urethra where urine flows out and the vagina where menstrual blood

out and the vagina where menstrual blood

out and the vagina where menstrual blood flows out they’re not the same passage

flows out they’re not the same passage

flows out they’re not the same passage but is this fundamental misunderstanding

but is this fundamental misunderstanding

but is this fundamental misunderstanding about basic anatomy really so surprising

about basic anatomy really so surprising

about basic anatomy really so surprising we hardly encourage young girls to

we hardly encourage young girls to

we hardly encourage young girls to explore or ask questions about their own

explore or ask questions about their own

explore or ask questions about their own genital Anatomy instead on the rare

genital Anatomy instead on the rare

genital Anatomy instead on the rare occasions that we do talk to them about

occasions that we do talk to them about

occasions that we do talk to them about it we tend to use cute euphemisms like

it we tend to use cute euphemisms like

it we tend to use cute euphemisms like lady garden or flower or even just down

lady garden or flower or even just down

lady garden or flower or even just down there to avoid using the proper terms

there to avoid using the proper terms

there to avoid using the proper terms and so young girls are getting the

and so young girls are getting the

and so young girls are getting the message that this is a very private part

message that this is a very private part

message that this is a very private part of their body that they need to keep

of their body that they need to keep

of their body that they need to keep hidden and certainly need to avoid

hidden and certainly need to avoid

hidden and certainly need to avoid touching and it’s no wonder that girls

touching and it’s no wonder that girls

touching and it’s no wonder that girls are growing up thinking that their

are growing up thinking that their

are growing up thinking that their genitals are shameful embarrassing and

genitals are shameful embarrassing and

genitals are shameful embarrassing and sometimes even ugly

sometimes even ugly

sometimes even ugly a young girl may become particularly

a young girl may become particularly

a young girl may become particularly concerned about her labia minora

concerned about her labia minora

concerned about her labia minora appearance when she goes through puberty

appearance when she goes through puberty

appearance when she goes through puberty because her labia will start to grow

because her labia will start to grow

because her labia will start to grow just like the rest of her body is

just like the rest of her body is

just like the rest of her body is growing at this stage her labia may

growing at this stage her labia may

growing at this stage her labia may appear more prominent and one side may

appear more prominent and one side may

appear more prominent and one side may grow faster than the other this may

grow faster than the other this may

grow faster than the other this may prompt her to look on the internet for

prompt her to look on the internet for

prompt her to look on the internet for an explanation for this change in her

an explanation for this change in her

an explanation for this change in her genital appearance rather than having a

genital appearance rather than having a

genital appearance rather than having a potentially embarrassing conversation

potentially embarrassing conversation

potentially embarrassing conversation with a family member friend or health

with a family member friend or health

with a family member friend or health professional and rather than finding

professional and rather than finding

professional and rather than finding reassurance about her genital appearance

reassurance about her genital appearance

reassurance about her genital appearance on the Internet

on the Internet

on the Internet she’s likely to come across labiaplasty

she’s likely to come across labiaplasty

she’s likely to come across labiaplasty as a relatively simple and easy solution

as a relatively simple and easy solution

as a relatively simple and easy solution to her perceived problems with her

to her perceived problems with her

to her perceived problems with her genital appearance and sadly this is

genital appearance and sadly this is

genital appearance and sadly this is meant that girls as young as 9 are

meant that girls as young as 9 are

meant that girls as young as 9 are requesting labiaplasty message these

requesting labiaplasty message these

requesting labiaplasty message these young girls are not receiving is that

young girls are not receiving is that

young girls are not receiving is that their prominent and asymmetrical labia

their prominent and asymmetrical labia

their prominent and asymmetrical labia at puberty may just balance out their

at puberty may just balance out their

at puberty may just balance out their genital appearance is meant to shift

genital appearance is meant to shift

genital appearance is meant to shift away from that pre-pubertal Barbie doll

away from that pre-pubertal Barbie doll

away from that pre-pubertal Barbie doll look in fact there’s a huge variety in

look in fact there’s a huge variety in

look in fact there’s a huge variety in labial size shape and color they’re just

labial size shape and color they’re just

labial size shape and color they’re just like snowflakes no two are alike and

like snowflakes no two are alike and

like snowflakes no two are alike and there’s certainly no one normal way for

there’s certainly no one normal way for

there’s certainly no one normal way for them to look labia also served really

them to look labia also served really

them to look labia also served really important functions like protecting the

important functions like protecting the

important functions like protecting the entrance of the vagina and the urethra

entrance of the vagina and the urethra

entrance of the vagina and the urethra from infection and they also enhance

from infection and they also enhance

from infection and they also enhance sexual pleasure and lubrication during

sexual pleasure and lubrication during

sexual pleasure and lubrication during intercourse so the surgical removal of

intercourse so the surgical removal of

intercourse so the surgical removal of this tissue is not to be taken lightly

this tissue is not to be taken lightly

this tissue is not to be taken lightly we know that girls and women who are

we know that girls and women who are

we know that girls and women who are seeking labiaplasty if they’re told

seeking labiaplasty if they’re told

seeking labiaplasty if they’re told about this great diversity and genital

about this great diversity and genital

about this great diversity and genital appearance it doesn’t always make them

appearance it doesn’t always make them

appearance it doesn’t always make them change their minds by this stage when

change their minds by this stage when

change their minds by this stage when they’re considering surgery it’s

they’re considering surgery it’s

they’re considering surgery it’s probably too late

probably too late

probably too late their concerns about their labia have

their concerns about their labia have

their concerns about their labia have probably been present since childhood or

probably been present since childhood or

probably been present since childhood or adolescence and they’re now firmly

adolescence and they’re now firmly

adolescence and they’re now firmly ingrained so if we want young girls to

ingrained so if we want young girls to

ingrained so if we want young girls to feel positive

feel positive

feel positive about their genital appearance we need

about their genital appearance we need

about their genital appearance we need to start having these conversations from

to start having these conversations from

to start having these conversations from a very young age as soon as girls start

a very young age as soon as girls start

a very young age as soon as girls start to become curious about their own bodies

to become curious about their own bodies

to become curious about their own bodies and certainly well before they’re

and certainly well before they’re

and certainly well before they’re secretly harboring concerns that their

secretly harboring concerns that their

secretly harboring concerns that their genital appearance may not be quite

genital appearance may not be quite

genital appearance may not be quite right and let’s not forget that young

right and let’s not forget that young

right and let’s not forget that young boys can benefit from these

boys can benefit from these

boys can benefit from these conversations too research has shown

conversations too research has shown

conversations too research has shown that receiving negative comments from

that receiving negative comments from

that receiving negative comments from male sexual partners about genital

male sexual partners about genital

male sexual partners about genital appearance can and does influence

appearance can and does influence

appearance can and does influence women’s consideration of labiaplasty so

women’s consideration of labiaplasty so

women’s consideration of labiaplasty so if young boys grow up with a basic

if young boys grow up with a basic

if young boys grow up with a basic understanding of female genital Anatomy

understanding of female genital Anatomy

understanding of female genital Anatomy they may be less critical of any future

they may be less critical of any future

they may be less critical of any future female sexual partners so now I’ve

female sexual partners so now I’ve

female sexual partners so now I’ve started you on this open conversation

started you on this open conversation

started you on this open conversation pathway encouraging you to feel more

pathway encouraging you to feel more

pathway encouraging you to feel more comfortable saying the word vagina but

comfortable saying the word vagina but

comfortable saying the word vagina but now it’s time to teach you the more

now it’s time to teach you the more

now it’s time to teach you the more correct term we sometimes mistakenly

correct term we sometimes mistakenly

correct term we sometimes mistakenly call the entire genital region the

call the entire genital region the

call the entire genital region the vagina but really this is just the

vagina but really this is just the

vagina but really this is just the inside part the outside part that you

inside part the outside part that you

inside part the outside part that you can see which includes the labia minora

can see which includes the labia minora

can see which includes the labia minora and labia majora is actually called the

and labia majora is actually called the

and labia majora is actually called the vulva so let’s start our first exercise

vulva so let’s start our first exercise

vulva so let’s start our first exercise again shall we please repeat after me

again shall we please repeat after me

again shall we please repeat after me save vulva and again vulva and one last

save vulva and again vulva and one last

save vulva and again vulva and one last time with Gaston terrific so let’s start

time with Gaston terrific so let’s start

time with Gaston terrific so let’s start talking about vulvas and not vaginas

talking about vulvas and not vaginas

talking about vulvas and not vaginas thank you

”

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