Snatch Squad: history, culture and power of female genitalia

[roughsatori]

This is from the guardian and is a review by Joanna Briscoe of "The Story of V". I thought that a few of you might find it interesting.

Vagina" is a dirty word. So filthy, in fact, that a book entirely dedicated to the subject fails to include it in its title. Despite a good airing by The Vagina Monologues, a term that was first used in English in 1682 is still so problematic that this study of female genitalia resorts instead to a euphemistic "V", which, in exaggerated font, also functions as something of a modesty patch for the book's pubic cover photo.

The problem, of course, is that the vagina is a culturally obscure little organ. Phallic references and penis jokes litter daily discourse, whereas vulval imagery is seemingly limited to pornography and dated lesbian-feminist jewellery, with the odd Georgia O'Keeffe and amusing ancient artefact thrown in. Of course, Catherine Blackledge is here to show us otherwise, and The Story of V is a mind-boggling smorgasbord of fanny facts, some of which we really, really didn't need to know.

The vagina has been explored by gynaecologists, sexologists and pornographers, but rarely, if ever, has its every cultural, historical, anthropological and anatomical facet been probed with such exhaustive - and exhausting - dedication. In our liberal era, we think we're all frightfully frank, but the vagina remains a far more taboo subject than we realise. Indeed, what goes on down there is still misrepresented or shrouded. There is still no term equivalent to "willy" that is acceptable for use among children. Fanny, pussy, snatch, cunt: the lexical options only shoot further and further up the rudeness scale. //snip//
more: http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/politicsphilosophyandsociety/0,6121,1031856,00.html

[Systematic Chaos]

1. We really need to restore the sacred feminine

to its full glory of millenia ago.

Male-dominated society and the oppression of women are a lot of what is wrong with the world now IMO.

[roughsatori]

2. I'm off to bed

I did think of Nothingshocksmeanymore and Tinoire when posting this. Not THAT part of them,I meant their minds. Goodnight.

[Tinoire]

3. Vagina Worship? What a beautiful concept

While vagina worship has formed an element of many eastern religions, the Christian view is all sin, shame and fig leaves. Vagina veneration is not exactly hot in the west.

So if I twist this correctly it means there's room for improvement in the West when it comes to vagina worship?

Ok and excellent! I'm game! :)

Thanks for posting this- it sounds like an interesting book that I'd love to read. Somehow I never got all excited over penis envy, the concept is so alien- but, this?

Bring this to the West and life will indeed be beautiful! ;)

On edit: sp

[ForrestGump]

4. I'm doing my share of worshipping

Well, not so much hands-(etc)-on lately, but it's still my favorite altar. Has me speaking in tongues, doncha know.... :-)

[roughsatori]

5. ForrestGump I knew this topic would be right up your proverbial alley

:P