The unjust stigmatization of vulvas in society continues

Last Thursday, students at Scripps College hosted an event at The Motley Coffeehouse called “Project Vulva” to initiate dialogue about the alleged stigmatization of vulvas in society.

“Why is it that, generally, society is so comfortable with the image of the penis and vulvas are considered taboo?” states Project Vulva’s Facebook page. “In middle school people would scribble penis pictures on the desks in the classroom. There is always that kid who passes out at the party and someone draws a dick on his face.”

Project Vulva’s organizers described the event as “an educational and interactive art show displaying your friends [sic] depictions when we asked them, ‘Can you draw a vulva?’ We will also have cupcakes that you can decorate like vulvas. Supplies are limited!” The event’s stated goal was “to create an open dialouge [sic] educating people about the vulva in order to confront society’s stigmas and stereotypes, and make people more comfortable with the many varying images and types of cis and non-cis vulvas.”

However, the event faced harsh backlash from online from commenters who found it offensive to the trans community.

One commenter, who felt that Project Vulva’s claim that penises are not stigmatized was untrue, wrote that, “[s]ociety is not comfortable with the image of a penis on a woman...