223:
and women; and as emphasizing female autonomy. By contrast, portrayals of the vulva in pornography and in biomedical science are characterized as stylized and uniform, excluding women whose genitalia do not match their models. Pornographic portrayals are further characterized as commodified, and medical portrayals as sterile. Feminist sex educators have advocated perusal of the images in
29:
305:, and to advise them about management of patient requests for FGCS. In this document, Simonis identifies lack of appreciation of female genital diversity, not only on the part of the public but also on the part of healthcare professionals, as a contributing factor to the demand for FGCS. She advocates the use of
222:
portrayals are characterized as accurate, honest, open, and truthful, as exhibiting "stark reality"; as promoting a positive view of the vulva; as emphasizing the diversity of the vulva in different women, as well as the diversity of opinions and perspectives about the vulva on the part of both men
247:, often motivated by concerns about controversial sexual content, in deciding which books to stock. Berman comments, "A detailed, artistic picture of a seashell adorns the cover. Were the contents strictly shell photos, the book might make it into at least some libraries. Shells, yes. Vulvas, no."
369:
selected by his prospective patients, even though he held that they set "impossible standards" because of the limitations of early 21st-century surgical technique. Wilson has republished, in an online journal article, the three photographs most often selected by his patients. He has also provided
194:
grew out of Blank's long-term work as a feminist sex educator. She felt that medical and pornographic images of the female genitals were inadequate to her purposes. In her introduction to the first edition, Blank lamented the absence of readily available photographic representations of the vulva
332:
as a resource to demonstrate the existence of female genital diversity, and to educate both clinicians and patients as to the range of normal vulval appearance. He attributes its widespread use by healthcare professionals to their belief that "it is one of very few photographic collections of
1235:
364:
to his prospective patients and asking them to indicate which vulvas they found most aesthetically pleasing, as well as which ones they would choose for themselves. Wilson attempted to approximate through surgery the appearance of the photographs from
264:
was used as one of three sources of sample depictions in the feminist publications category. This study found a statistically significant difference between online pornography and feminist publications in depicted protuberance of the
269:, with greater mean protuberance shown in the feminist publications. It also found greater variation in measured genital proportions shown in the feminist publications than in the other two categories of sources.
1222:
152:, and Michael A. Rosen. The photographs are presented without commentary, except for Blank's brief introduction to the volume as a whole. Blank wanted to present accurate images of the subject, in contrast to
301:(RACGP) has published a guideline document, authored by Magdalena Simonis under authority of the RACGP, intended to inform healthcare professionals about female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS), such as
184:. The photographs by Corinne and Perry had been taken years before the book's original publication in 1993; those by Posener and Rosen were taken specifically for inclusion in the first edition of
1352:
195:
other than heavily edited images in male-oriented pornography, and the resulting feeling on the part of a majority of women that "in one way or another, their genitals are not quite 'normal
309:
as a tool for patient education about genital diversity, in part because it depicts female genitals without digital enhancement. Simonis has further referenced this educational use of
818:
Green, Fiona J. (2005). "From clitoridectomies to 'designer vaginas': the medical construction of heteronormative female bodies and sexuality through female genital cutting".
1274:
1452:
1207:
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663:
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The feminist commitment to ostensibly unmediated representation of 'natural' female genitals is one whose value has also been recognized by medical experts;
1407:
703:
Lloyd, Jillian; Crouch, Naomi S.; Minto, Catherine L.; Liao, Lih-Mei; Creighton, Sarah M. (May 2005). "Female genital appearance: 'normality' unfolds".
1437:
1303:
1173:
1343:
374:, as well as a short narrative summary of the specific anatomical features that he believed to be characteristic of the most popular photographs.
980:
260:
In a study of systematic differences in the depiction of female genitals in online pornography, anatomy textbooks, and feminist publications,
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450:
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in slide and poster presentations intended to promote better management of the demand for FGCS on the part of healthcare professionals.
930:
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281:) in a psychological study of the relationship between women's aesthetic perceptions of female genitals and their attitudes toward
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28:
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289:, and the relevant attitudes were anxiety, embarrassment, and likelihood of making or keeping an appointment for a Pap smear.
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Plemons, Eric (2015). "Anatomical authorities: on the epistemological exclusion of trans-surgical patients".
858:
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623:
400:
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Female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS): a resource for general practitioners and other health professionals
890:
769:"In their own words: a qualitative content analysis of women's and men's preferences for women's genitals"
714:
1299:"P13.02 Female genital cosmetic surgery toolkit for general practitioners and other health professionals"
1175:
Examining the vulva: the relationship between female genital aesthetic perceptions and gynecological care
482:
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Female genital cosmetic surgery: a resource for general practitioners and other health professionals
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Female
Genital Cosmetic Surgery Toolkit for general practitioners and other health professionals
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659:"AGAINST: The social vulnerability and cultural view of women as sex objects needs to end"
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was used as one of two sources of sample depictions of female genitals (the other was
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360:. Beginning in the year 2000, surgeon Neal Wilson began showing photographs from
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as an exercise to help women to regard their genitals in a more positive light.
212:
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summary statistics concerning his patients' choices of vulval photographs from
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as an example to illustrate his thesis that libraries engage in inappropriate
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542:
1339:"The aesthetic vulva: perineal cosmesis in the male-to-female transsexual"
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1111:
767:; Schick, Vanessa; Sanders, Stephanie A.; Reece, Michael (July 1, 2015).
349:
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286:
1385:
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134:
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Feminist authors have sharply contrasted the portrayals of vulvas in
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examinations. More specifically, the examinations in question were
1112:"Visual depictions of female genitalia differ depending on source"
122:
1101:
1099:
1097:
1004:"Fucking our way to a better world: an interview with C. Gallant"
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696:
706:
664:
616:
Genital sensation: abrasive bodies in feminist performance
1208:
Royal
Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
933:(2001). "Socio-cultural representations of the vagina".
256:
Research on depiction and perception of female genitals
481:, and Michael A. Rosen (2nd ed.). San Francisco:
441:, and Michael A. Rosen (1st ed.). San Francisco:
324:
has had an unanticipated life in clinical literature.
316:
Medical anthropologist Eric
Plemons has stated that:
1232:
GP15: The RACGP Conference for
General Practice 2015
344:
has been used as a way of assessing preferences for
101:
93:
83:
69:
61:
45:
35:
1273:(Poster P13.02). Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
1195:
1193:
1191:
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299:Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
879:(2001). "The perfectible vagina: size matters".
121:is a book of 32 full-color photographs of human
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935:Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
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8:
1260:Simonis, Magdalena (September 13–16, 2015).
348:and genital cosmetic appearance, to improve
21:
1234:(slides). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
27:
20:
1453:Gender-affirming surgery (male-to-female)
1316:
1221:Simonis, Magdalena (September 23, 2015).
1137:
1041:meeting. Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, US.
894:
794:
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676:
1344:International Journal of Transgenderism
1172:Schick, Vanessa R. (January 31, 2010).
983:from the original on September 10, 2015
411:
144:in 2011. The photographs were taken by
1297:Simonis, Magdalena (September 2015).
293:Educational role in clinical practice
7:
1280:from the original on August 21, 2021
1110:; Jordan, Fiona M. (December 2010).
211:with those in typical male-oriented
1428:Genital modification and mutilation
1241:from the original on March 21, 2017
820:Sexualities, Evolution & Gender
168:The word used as the book's title,
1206:. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia:
1048:from the original on June 18, 2022
14:
1408:Non-fiction books about sexuality
1355:from the original on May 28, 2024
1271:World STI & HIV Congress 2015
1438:Human female reproductive system
1318:10.1136/sextrans-2015-052270.500
1200:Simonis, Magdalena (July 2015).
729:10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00517.x
1304:Sexually Transmitted Infections
975:. News and Views: Savage Love.
882:Culture, Health & Sexuality
657:Iglesia, Cheryl B. (May 2014).
613:Duncan, Rachel (January 2005).
1139:11858/00-001M-0000-0013-4404-7
333:'normal' vulvas that exists".
1:
787:10.1080/14681811.2015.1031884
535:10.1080/01459740.2015.1036264
328:Plemons documents the use of
1180:George Washington University
337:Transgender genital cosmesis
215:and in biomedical sources.
174:, was taken from the novel
1479:
1002:Warburton, Rachel (2007).
947:10.1080/02646830020032374
905:10.1080/13691050152484704
832:10.1080/14616660500200223
26:
1311:(Suppl 2): A193.1–A193.
358:gender-affirming surgery
97:United States of America
1458:Vagina and vulva in art
1130:10.1136/jmh.2009.003707
859:Loughborough University
854:The vagina: an analysis
678:10.1111/1471-0528.12621
624:University of Leicester
401:Vagina and vulva in art
129:and first published by
1423:Feminism and sexuality
326:
57:, and Michael A. Rosen
1448:Sex-positive feminism
1337:Wilson, Neal (2002).
1083:Progressive Librarian
1075:"'Inside' censorship"
977:Metro Times (Detroit)
396:Sex-positive feminism
1413:Books of photographs
1403:Books about feminism
1178:(PhD dissertation).
971:(December 3, 2014).
857:(PhD dissertation).
622:(PhD dissertation).
522:Medical Anthropology
251:Science and medicine
1418:Feminism and health
1378:"Femalia (2nd ed.)"
1031:'Inside' censorship
633:on December 1, 2017
356:undergoing genital
23:
1117:Medical Humanities
1039:Minnesota Atheists
1028:(April 16, 2000).
1106:Howarth, Helena;
851:(November 2000).
763:Mullinax, Margo;
586:978-0-394-58995-4
492:978-0-86719-758-7
477:, Michael Perry,
473:. Photographs by
452:978-0-940208-15-5
437:, Michael Perry,
433:. Photographs by
203:Feminist response
148:, Michael Perry,
140:was published by
114:
113:
94:Publication place
53:, Michael Perry,
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765:Herbenick, Debby
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626:. Archived from
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565:Baker, Nicholson
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443:Down There Press
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131:Down There Press
85:Publication date
74:Down There Press
31:
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1388:on May 1, 2016.
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1073:(Summer 2001).
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973:"Labia of love"
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873:Braun, Virginia
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182:Nicholson Baker
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49:Photographs by
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1386:the original
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1124:(2): 75–79.
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635:. Retrieved
628:the original
615:
577:Random House
575:. New York:
571:Vox: a novel
570:
559:
526:
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479:Jill Posener
470:
467:Blank, Joani
461:
439:Jill Posener
430:
427:Blank, Joani
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158:medical ones
154:pornographic
150:Jill Posener
125:, edited by
117:
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55:Jill Posener
18:
1433:Gynaecology
1014:(2): 64–71.
969:Savage, Dan
391:Labia pride
354:trans women
303:labiaplasty
213:pornography
146:Tee Corinne
133:in 1993. A
127:Joani Blank
51:Tee Corinne
46:Illustrator
40:Joani Blank
1397:Categories
1359:August 24,
1284:August 26,
1245:August 26,
1052:August 24,
1037:(Speech).
987:August 26,
671:(6): 768.
637:August 19,
407:References
385:101 Vagina
287:Pap smears
239:has cited
235:Librarian
1382:Last Gasp
955:145198475
927:Braun, V.
913:143982758
891:CiteSeerX
715:CiteSeerX
483:Last Gasp
278:Penthouse
142:Last Gasp
78:Last Gasp
70:Publisher
16:1993 book
1353:Archived
1292:Abstract
1275:Archived
1236:Archived
1156:42989634
1148:21393286
1090:: 48–63.
1043:Archived
1008:Atlantis
981:Archived
805:27004044
745:17818072
737:15842291
687:24738897
567:(1992).
551:36226237
543:25849147
378:See also
350:cosmesis
346:perineal
62:Language
22:Femalia
796:4796748
471:Femalia
431:Femalia
372:Femalia
367:Femalia
362:Femalia
342:Femalia
330:Femalia
322:Femalia
311:Femalia
307:Femalia
273:Femalia
262:Femalia
241:Femalia
225:Femalia
217:Femalia
209:Femalia
192:Femalia
186:Femalia
171:femalia
164:History
138:edition
135:reprint
118:Femalia
65:English
1443:Pelvis
1154:
1146:
953:
911:
893:
803:
793:
743:
735:
717:
685:
583:
549:
541:
489:
449:
220:'s
123:vulvas
36:Editor
1351:(4).
1278:(PDF)
1267:(PDF)
1239:(PDF)
1228:(PDF)
1152:S2CID
1078:(PDF)
1046:(PDF)
1035:(PDF)
951:S2CID
909:S2CID
741:S2CID
631:(PDF)
620:(PDF)
547:S2CID
1361:2017
1286:2017
1247:2017
1144:PMID
1054:2017
989:2017
801:PMID
733:PMID
683:PMID
639:2017
581:ISBN
539:PMID
487:ISBN
447:ISBN
297:The
103:ISBN
89:1993
1313:doi
1134:hdl
1126:doi
943:doi
901:doi
828:doi
791:PMC
783:doi
725:doi
711:112
673:doi
669:121
531:doi
352:in
199:".
180:by
177:Vox
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