What is the stigma with the word VAGINA?
The answer is fear and centuries of misogyny and misunderstanding.
A study found that 65% of women are uncomfortable with using words like vagina and vulva, instead referring to it as “down there”. 45% of women don’t talk about their vaginal health with friends or family (I am the 65% stats), let alone their doctor. 50% of young women can’t correctly label a vagina on a medical diagram.
I teach my children the scientific words to describe their genitals after attending a talk on Sexual Harassment. The reason why most parents fail to see that their child was being sexually abused is due to this stigma as well as the improper usage of the word to describe their privates.
“Karipap” “Berbird” were words taught to these children as tots and so when an “Uncle” touched their genitals, they tried telling their parents but it didn’t really register.
“Ibu..haritu ada orang pegang Karipap adik”
Let’s try it differently.
“Ibu … Uncle tu pegang kemaluan/ faraj / vulva/ zakar/ vagina / penis saya!”
I am pretty sure there would be an immediate reaction, right?
A healthy vagina is paramount to a women’s physical, mental and emotional health. It is INCREDIBLY important that we talk about them and normalise the language. How are we to know what’s normal and what’s not if everyone is so vague about it? Some of the teens I speak to don’t even know that they could pregnant in their first sexual encounter!
Thank you to the naysayers who ‘tsk tsk tsk-ed” sanitary producers @libresse_my which resulted in them withdrawing their ad. This naturally riled up netizens!
Well, good news is Libresse has gained more advertorial exposure and more people are talking about Vaginal health - which was the main objective of their campaign. 😏
Am I offended by the artwork?
No.
People see and interpret things accordingly.
I’ve learnt, that our backgrounds, education and the circle of people that surrounds us makes up our beliefs, our values in life and the personality we breed.
We can’t please everyone can we?
Iklan jap. Use @bobble.it with my code: DAPHNE. They take vaginal health seriously. Stalk them to know more.
