I've put this here and not in news as i thought it more appropriate here,but feel free to move.

Much as breasts have become a market commodity, vaginas have suffered a similar fate. Girls, women, boys, and men, are given little to no empowering imagery, mythology or language within American culture, regarding vaginas and female genitals. The most common thing kids and adults hear about female genitals is they supposedly stink like rotten tuna fish, or leave trails like slugs. Additionally, those jokes about tuna and slugs are bantered about lightly by males and females alike. Women are taught their genitals are gross in American culture, yet we also know they are an economic commodity, which is confusing.
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?...050119210623837

A very interesting article. It is sad that in today's world an empowering image is seen as a degrading one.

On the 'sanitary' issue - that is a big bugbear for me. Menstrual blood is not vile, not dirty, not ridden with bacteria.

There's a device out there I don't know if any of you use - a Mooncup.It's essentially a small funnel with a closed end, where the blood collects. It's taken out periodically and emptied, either rinsed down the sink or used as a fertiliser for house plants (this could have also gone in the gardening section!)

That was a fascinating article, Morrigan, thank you :-)

yeh i use a moon cup an have done for about a year now, it saves me soooo much money and is much better for the environment.

I think real women's bodies as a whole have been treated in the same way and the whole experience of giving birth and motherhood is seen as something that should be kept hidden too. All the pictures of topless girls and women out there and how much art is there of breast-feeding mothers? I remember when I was secretary for the local NCT branch getting complaints about discreet posters from men in the community centre we used. Maybe they just didn't like the thought that there were women breast-feeding in the same building as them, who knows, but they objected to the posters going on the shared board.

My ex raved at great length about how disgusting and hideous seeing me giving birth was - no wonderous or miraculous moments for him. (He could have left at any time if it was that bad - in fact he was sent out but came back.) For years I felt intense shame at the thought of the birth of my kids, then I came across this

http://www.philhine.org.uk/art/sculpture_earthgoddess.html

which intrigued and scared me at the time and made me completely re-think the whole experience. In a maternity magazine I had come across these pictures http://www.ghislainehoward.com/mat.htm and had always remembered them. There's an article on birth art here (although a fair few of the links are broke a google image search will find the pics) http://www.withwoman.co.uk/contents/art/birthart.html

Xianity has a lot to answer for in this

Yes, very interesting article! And som very interesting links too! Been browsing through them and bookmarked the lot! Thanks for the house o´chicks and their vulva university It´s great!
It´s a shame female genitals (and things associated with it such as menstruation, giving birts etc) are so taboo, and so shameful. I am shocked over how breastfeeding is viewed in the US for instance! Over here noone looks twice at a woman feeding her child on a bench in the park or in a cafe. Why are breasts suddenly only ok when they are used to give grownup men pleasure and NOT when they are used for what thet were made for..???
The man, however can proudly show of his genitals, that is considered to represents manhood, couriage, strenght.
Sisters, be proud!

Deerheart

Xtianity seems to have got a lot of its ideas on how to treat women and our respective parts from Judaism. Forty days unclean after the birth of a baby? Must be 'churched' before being seen in 'decent' company? Get real!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School education policy doesn't help either- I'd agree that girls need to be told some things seperate to the boys about their bodies- but it means that men grow up in total ignorance of the beauty of a womans body- and just perpetuate the myths and the things that are wrong etc etc

And the names!!!

Honestly, how many different words do you know for a penis? How about vagina? They're all icky for want of a better word!

I love the Sheela-na-Gig images, really empowering and showing the source of all life- with a little help of course!

Great post - been thinking about this a lot recently. It's unfair how men get their bits glorified, thats' fine, but i want some too!

I want a mooncup but i have a question - when ur out shopping, at work, school or uni, whatever, what do you do then? I'm thinking you couldn't go in your cubicle and come out moments later with a cup of blood to rinse off in the sinks? Might be arrested?

Maybe we SHOULD be able to do this though! No shame!

I used a similar device the last 5+ yrs before cronehood. Very nice & easy to use. When in public I removed cup, flushed, rinsed cup on CLEAN water (flush more times if necessary) and re-inserted. Sometimes if there is a handicapped stall the sink is in the stall w/ the toilet. Worked soooooo much nicer than dragging along cotton bits, especially for those who are at the end of their times with no set schedule.

Carry a small bottle of water to rinse it with you. And IIRC you only have to empty them every six hours.

can you feel them inside? I mean, I hate using tampons because I'm always aware of them and can't get comfy (and you wouldn't believe the chafing a little piece of string can cause against a piercing!).

It goes in like a diaphram - and no, if it's in correctly I don't (didn't) feel it. You do have to watch when you suddenly clench muscles tho (like sneezing), it can get displaced and need to be adjusted then.; do so or it will leak a bit.