We are only a generation away from the time when ‘vagina’ wasn’t a word said in polite society. Before that, if I recall correctly, it was ‘privates’ – or if you were progressive like my mom was – one referred to what was in one’s panties as ‘genitals’.
That was the good stuff. On the streets it was twat and cunt and pussy and gash… I could go on and on.
Men seem to have a love/hate relationship with female genitalia, even gay men. I was on the board of a gay/lesbian organization (that I soon left) where the men referred to women as ‘fish’. To demean another man call him a ‘pussy’. To demean a woman spew ‘cunt’ at her. Or a gazillion other slang names. I refer you to this slang dictionary website: http://onlineslangdictionary.com/thesaurus/words+meaning+vulva+(%27vagina%27),+female+genitalia.html
Now – thank you, Eve Ensler, we proudly use the words ‘vagina’ and ‘vulva’. Even in public. Even on prime time television.
The rest of the country seems to be afraid of what is in each others’ panties, jock shorts, boxers or thongs. Here’s the deal. The only person whose business it is about what is in my panties is me. And anyone with whom I care to share the information. It is private. Not only is it my privacy to control, every one should have the right to that privacy.
Maybe it’s a good idea for us to begin calling what is in our panties, tighty whitey’s, boxers or thongs ‘privates’ again. Then when someone enters a public restroom we would all remember that what is in their drawers is ‘privates’.
Even down to the contents of our underwear some sort of division is waiting in the wings. Someday I hope that I will see news stories about people based on the true news and not their divisive category. (such as gay marriage…it’s just marriage)
We are allowing definitions such as straight white married male democrat with conservative leanings who thinks he’s a moderate but would die before becoming a republican in this republic capitalistic democracy to presort us like the junk mail we despise.