I Realized I Had Been Taught To Hate My Vagina
Breaking down 5 myths surrounding one of my favorite body parts.
Why is c*nt the naughtiest word in the English language? I know the British love to throw it around with particular vigor. Yet as a Californian, I quickly learned that this word was the reigning queen of vulgarity: she-who-must-not-be-named.
I was in the seventh grade when Zachary was dared to utter the worst curse word he knew. I expected to hear him mutter a word that rhymed with duck. Instead, he quickly spat out a different four-letter word.
Can’t? Is that what Zack said?
I immediately asked for clarification, desperately equating maturity with knowing naughty words. A harrowing silence fell, no one wanted to answer my question. Finally, one of the boys divulged that cunt means vagina.
This was my introduction into a terrifyingly normal aspect of our culture: hating the vagina.
Really, I should say vulva, as the vagina only refers to the birth canal. It’s the vulva people are really referencing when conjuring the image of a vagina.
Whatever you like to call her, I learned something monumental that day. Vulva’s are contaminated and unspeakable…
