Beyond the monologues Fashion Italia
It does not happen every day to watch sixteen-ninth format vulva images on TV. It happens on Netflix in The Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow, the six-episode documentary-show in which the American actress explores the frontiers of holistic well-being: the third episode is dedicated to the pleasure of women and the beauty of the female genital organs.
The ostension of the vulva of Goop Lab it is only the last appearance in chronological order in more or less pop contexts and it is the new mantra of feminism and gender re-appropriation: in a few months there was the opening of the Vagina Museum in London, the publication of the book Womanhood: The Bare Reality by the British artist Laura Dodsworth, with 100 photos of vulva and the explosion of the instagram account @ the.vulva.gallery, a phenomenon of half a million followers of the Dutch artist Hilde Atalanta.
In short, if up to 20 years ago vaginas talked with the famous monologues, now instead they show off: we see them everywhere, of any size, color, size. Purpose? Fighting what American feminists call the spread of the “vagina shame”, defined as yet another tool of patriarchy against women.
“Men have always made us feel wrong, criticizing the shape, color, smell and performance of our genital organs,” says gynecologist Jen Gunter, columnist at The New York Times and author of the best seller The Vagina Bible (Citadel Pr), another piece of the new vulva-power trend.
“But in recent years the phenomenon has worsened: on the one hand the habit of total hair removal has made visible what was not seen before, and therefore has increased the doubts of young women about the normalcy of their private parts. Moreover, the only vulva that we see are those of porn movies, often bleached and surgically reduced. On the other hand, it has been seen that this insecurity can create a thriving market: precisely that of surgical interventions and elasticizing, moisturizing, perfuming, shrinking, increasingly popular products “.
Adds the psychologist and sexologist Roberta Rossi, author of the book I’ll come first (Fabbri): «Women, girls and girls must know that there is no ugly or abnormal vulva. Each one is made differently, like our eyes or eyelashes. And above all, they must become aware of its potential: the clitoris is the only organ of the human body whose sole purpose is pleasure. It has no equal in man. Shame? Pride, if anything ».
The illustrations are all part of the The Vulva Gallery project, created by HILDE ATALANTA in 2016 and which collects drawings, portraits and stories that celebrate the vulva and its diversity: «Those who follow The Vulva Gallery know that it is an inclusive platform open to women and individuals with different gender identities who want to share their experiences. Gender identity is our individual sense of gender, the one in which we feel most comfortable. And it is different from biological sex (the sexual and physical characteristics with which we are born, such as the genital system, chromosomes, hormones, etc.) or from the expression of gender (the way we dress, we behave, we is expressed). Having a vulva does not necessarily mean that you identify with a girl or woman. There are many different gender identities (for example, non-binary, transgender, genderfluid or cisgender). Gender identity can remain constant, or it can change over time due to changes or personal experiences “.
HILDE ATALANTA: “If you’ve been following The Vulva Gallery you might already know that it is a gender-inclusive platform, welcoming women and individuals of diverse gender identities to share their experiences. Gender identity is your personal sense of gender, which you feel fits you best.It is different from biological sex (the physical sex characteristics you’re born with, such as genitals, chromosomes, hormones, etc.) or gender expression (the way you dress, behave and express yourself). you have a vulva, that doesn’t automatically mean that you identify as a girl or as a woman as well. There are many different gender identities (for example, non-binary, transgender, genderfluid or cisgender). steady, or it may change over time through personal development or experiences. “
From Fashion Italia, n. 837, May 2020