Viva your Vulva - in Edinburgh

Elaine Miller is wonderful and very, very funny, her Twitter feed is a delight.
I’m with those that think body parts should be named correctly. Having said that, I have a Rosebud between my legs and so does my daughter ? my late brother was 12 years older than me, I was getting my nappy changed, he pointed and asked “what’s that called?” Mum said she was a bit flustered, and said Rosebud.
I never saw Citizen Kane until after my Mum had died, so I still wonder to this day, sled or pretty flower? ?

Baggytrazzas

I was shocked though when I first went to America and heard what sounded like well off women talking freely about their fannies eg skirt was so short it was up to her fanny, etc until I realised it was slang for bottom.

I once read a novel imperfectly ‘translated’ from the American, which contained the line, ‘He patted her fanny as he went past.’

My children were taught the correct words and my granddaughter has as well. I have a friend who refers to her lady garden and another who talked about front bottoms.

Thank you for that link of Elaine Miller speaking Rosie51. It is excellent.
I recommend it to anyone who wants to hear an entertaining & informative talk about menopause, incontinence, testosterone & a few other things.
I'll just put it here again now -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9ZNINhdhN0

My DiL got a book on the body for our dgd when the eldest was about 8. He and his younger sister were encouraged to read and ask as many questions as they liked. There was no coyness, and as a result, their knowledge of their bodies is very good

Even so, not too long ago, dgd (now 9) asked about the vulva, and although dil told her which bit it was, she also said that although strictly-speaking that's its 'proper' name, all of the women that she knows refer to it as the vagina.

Personally, every time I hear the word vulva it reminds me of a game of scrabble about seven years ago. I could have put the word on triple score and won the match, but there was no way I could bring myself to use it because we were playing with my parents.

Ladyleftfieldlover

My children were taught the correct words and my granddaughter has as well. I have a friend who refers to her lady garden and another who talked about front bottoms.

My former neighbour used to refer to her daughter's "moneybox" ?

V3ra

Ladyleftfieldlover

My children were taught the correct words and my granddaughter has as well. I have a friend who refers to her lady garden and another who talked about front bottoms.

My former neighbour used to refer to her daughter's "moneybox" ?

Yes, I think I might have heard it referred to as " sitting on her tuppence" .

I wonder why we have so many names for such a tiny and generally usually well concealed body part?

I wonder why we have so many names for such a tiny and generally usually well concealed body part?
Fear of female sexuality.

We always used the correct names for body parts, vulva, penis etc along with ears, nose, arm, but did use some "pet names" for bodily functions. Goodness knows why We never said 'do you need to urinate', or 'empty your bladder', normally using 'do you need a wee' to very young children and 'go to the toilet first' for older ones with a 'just try' when the older ones insisted they didn't need to 'go' before a journey. Why wouldn't we ask a child if they needed to empty their bowel? Just conditioning I suppose, and the language seems too grown up and even 'medical', but that's just perception.

As for all the words for vulvas, that's just euphemisms gone mad! As a child all I knew that area as was 'privates' ?

Oh, I hadn't thought about that.

I wondered if it might be based upon a mixture of shyness and ignorance. And so was wondering if maybe we had a tv campaign consisting of adverts throughout every day and evening but especially around tea time that tried to promote the usage of the proper words and accurate body parts. You know, similar to the Tampon, Sanitary Towel, Incontinence Pants, Viagra adverts - horrifying at first then after we've all heard them a few times it all becomes normal.

nb my response above was to Doodledog

Baggytrazzas

Oh, I hadn't thought about that.

I wondered if it might be based upon a mixture of shyness and ignorance. And so was wondering if maybe we had a tv campaign consisting of adverts throughout every day and evening but especially around tea time that tried to promote the usage of the proper words and accurate body parts. You know, similar to the Tampon, Sanitary Towel, Incontinence Pants, Viagra adverts - horrifying at first then after we've all heard them a few times it all becomes normal.

?

Well, it's worth a try, but I think there would have to be ads for apoplexy cures and pacemakers in the breaks, as a lot of people would be offended. I can just see the tabloid headlines.

I was in hospital for an operation at about 6 & a half years old.
A nurse asked me, in the evenings, if my bowels had moved. I told her I didn't know.
I had to ask my mum when she came to visit, what it was.
The nurse laughed when I enthusiastically answered Yes the next time she asked.
I don't know why she didn't check if I knew what it meant, the first couple of times.

Doodledog - yes, me too! But I wasn't thinking of the tabloids more the comments on GN and the volume of "Reported/Deleted " notes flying around!

I think I might write to my MP tomorrow suggesting this.

Do let us know if you get a reply?

I think the American ‘snatch’ is quite evocative. ‘Popped your cherry’ was something they used to refer to when I was very young, in London. Referring to loss of virginity of course. Funny thread, gave me a few giggles. Or should I say, ‘fanny thread’?

Nearly 40 years ago, as a student RGN in one of my placements, I worked in a long-term Care of the Elderly ward. One of the common phrases there was “a wee bit of flour on your cookie”. I didn’t have a scooby as to what it meant the first time I heard it, but instantly realised when I saw where the talc was sprinkled ?

I find it amazing how many women believe that urine comes out of the same opening as period blood.

I think moneybox relates to the fact that there is an income to made from this organ should you so wish!

Luckygirl3

I think moneybox relates to the fact that there is an income to made from this organ should you so wish!

hope it's more than tuppence!

I knew the vagina was the tunnel and the outer bits were labia, I don't think I knew it was a vulva...well until leaving school and I did A level biology

Is the vulva the front fleshy, split bit? (Forgive my ignorance)

That’s what I thought when we were doing the ‘labelling’ in Y2 (and having to label it vagina )

apparently the vulva is the outer labia, the inner labia, the clitoris and the entrance bit to the vagina. I'm sorry if I have made it sound like a package holiday

Fanny the vulva is the external female genitalia which includes labia, clitoris, vaginal opening etc.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulva

Baggytrazzas

V3ra

Ladyleftfieldlover

My children were taught the correct words and my granddaughter has as well. I have a friend who refers to her lady garden and another who talked about front bottoms.

My former neighbour used to refer to her daughter's "moneybox" ?

Yes, I think I might have heard it referred to as " sitting on her tuppence" .

I wonder why we have so many names for such a tiny and generally usually well concealed body part?

My nanna used to tell me to “ keep your hand on your ha’ penny “ ?