In London, England's Camden Market the world's first museum dedicated to gynaecology opened this weekend.
A project that has been years in the works, The Vagina Museum, founded by feminist Florence Schechter opened this weekend. Schechter says that the idea for the museum came to her after visiting Iceland's Penis Museum, and realizing that their was no vagina equivalent. The project was crowdfunded, and money began to be invested in 2017.
The museum has a mission with six main points. As listed on the Vagina Museum website, those points are as follows:
1. To spread knowledge and raise awareness of gynaecological anatomy and health.
2. Give confidence to people to talk about issues surrounding the gynaecological anatomy.
3. Erase the stigma around the body and gynaecological anatomy.
4. Act as a forum for feminism, women's rights, the LGBTQ+ community, and the intersex community.
5. Challenge heteronormative and cis-normative behaviour.
6. Promote intersectional, feminist, and trans-inclusive values.
A YouGov survey conducted this past February found that 52% of people could not describe the vagina. Further, 47% couldn't describe the vulva, and 58% failed to be able to describe the urethra. The same survey found that 65% of 16 to 25-year-olds have issues using the words vagina or vulva. Additionally, data from the National Health Services (the UK's public health service) found that between the years of 2002 and 2012 there has been a 500% increase in the performance of labiaplasty. These may all be indicators that Schechter's Vagina Museum is long overdue.
"Our top priority is to fight the taboo that surrounds our bodies and provide a place where we can have an open and honest conversation"
-Vagina Museum founder, Florence Schechter
The museum's first exhibit is called Muff Busters: Vagina Myths and How to Fight Them, and uses different pieces of art and articles to educate and break down misinformation surrounding the vagina. One piece of misinformation is the myth that pubic hair is unhygienic, a concept that has been repeatedly disproven, eloquently summed up by "the internet's gynaecologist" Dr. Jen Gunter, here. Muff Busters also seeks to open up conversations surrounding vaginal cleanliness, periods, appearance, sex, and contraception. The exhibit was curated by artist and activist Sarah Creed.
The Museum is located in units 17 and 18 of Camden Market in London and is open seven days a week, from 10 in the morning until six in the evening from Monday to Saturday, and from 11 in the morning until five in the evening on Sunday. Pets and children are always welcome in the museum, and admission is always free.
Written by: Devon Clare Banfield
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