Every Vulva is Different (which is not a Monty Python song, but should be)

Alert: Very not suitable for work!

German teen magazine Bravo, known for it's explicit information on sexuality and sexual health has done it again with their feature: Vulva-Galerie: Schau, welche Unterschiede es gibt! which according to my Google translator means "Vulva Gallery: Look, what are the differences?"

The text says: The vulva is the externally visible part of the vagina. Do you want to finally know what it looks like on other girls? We show you the variations! If you click on Hier siehst du, welche Vulva-Variationen es gibt! (Here are the vulva variations!), you get a gallery of photographs of female genitals, photographed from the front. Some are pierced, some are hairy, some are shaved, some have larger labia...but unfortunately, they're all white and none of the women seem to be on the larger side.

That's too bad, because the underlying message is a good one: Stop comparing your ladyparts to women in mainstream porn. This is what we look like when we're not being seen through the male gaze. Every vulva is different and special in its own way. Again, I wish there had been some diversity in race and size. Is Germany really such a homogeneous society? I don't think so. The photo series ends with a more explicit photo of the inner vulva, complete with labels.

Not only would this never fly in the US, it reminds me of an interview we did with CosmoGirl! editor Susan Schulz who told us about an illustration of a vulva they commissioned in order to acquaint their readers with their own ladyparts. The title was 'Vulva Love' and it was done in a fun folksy way and totally non-pervy. Susan told us they got more hate mail from parents about that item than anything else they ever ran. The illustrator didn't even want their name on the piece. I've searched online for the image but can't find it, so I'll post it and our interview with Susan in when I'm back in the USA.

By the way, the Bravo vulva item is part of a regular feature called Dr. Sommer which includes topics for teen boys and girls like vaginal health, penile pain, "Are You Really Ready for Sex?" and "Love School"(if you are ready, I guess). My knowledge of the German language is now exhausted, but if anyone wants to translate other items, please leave it in the comments!

Thanks to Andrew and Joanna for the link!