Cunts

I thought I might impart a little information this month that is very close to my heart.
Last month on 'Hungry Beast' (Wednesday 9.00pm ABC1, Thursday 8.30pm ABC2) a wonderful interview was conducted with National Classification Board member Greg Scott regarding the practise of photoshopping pictures of women's vaginas in magazines. Apparantly, Australians don't want to see, and should not see, female 'genital detail'. No, no, no, we should only see a 'tidy' female vulva - that is, no visible inner lips - only a vulva with the outer lips folding over the inner, somewhat like a baby's.
The exact reason as to why a picture of a woman with protruding inner lips is more explicit than a woman with a 'neater' slit is unclear. What is apparant, is that Labiaplasty, the practise of cosmetically altering a woman's vagina to make it look 'less detailed' is one of the fastest growing areas of cosmetic surgery.
Women seeing pictures of photoshopped vaginas are starting to question whether or not their own vaginas are 'normal'. Women are so disgusted with their vaginas that, in increasing numbers, they are taking the ultimate step of having a surgeon cut away their 'excess' skin. If you watched Hungry Beast, you would have seen a surgeon perform the operation and then hold up the offending fold. Whether or not cutting away at the labia might cause nerve damage is unclear.
It's not only the OFLC who believe vaginas are offensive, The Australian Family Association believe that the imagery of vulvas is ‘offensive’ and ‘degrading’ to women. Australian sculptor Greg Taylor caused a stir in 2008 when he exhibited sculptures of female genetalia entitled 'CUNTS'. He thought it interesting that the most reviled word in the English language was once a term of reverence. Nevertheless, the furore his posters caused revealed the depth of feeling surrounding the female form.
My deep feeling is that when a society restricts our view of ourselves, it inhibits, twists and rots our sense of self. It is enough that women are airbrushed to perfection. When our cunts are 'perfected' it offends our sexuality, and sexuality is an intrinsic part of our soul.

Follow these links to find out more.

http://hungrybeast.abc.net.au/stories/labiaplasty-extended-interview-greg-scott
http://cuntsthemovie.com/
http://www.newviewcampaign.org/fgcs.asp
http://events.vday.org/2010/community/Melbourne_%28TVM%29
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2010/3012776.htm