A Letter to the Towerlight:
Vagina is not a ‘vulgar’ term

Laura Hummel

9 March 2006

[Online Editors’ Note:  This letter was published in The Towerlight on 9 March 2006 (p. 5).  While the author might not be herself a libertarian, we felt this article may be of interest to libertarian student readers, and thus are including it here.]

Reacting to “‘Monologues’ shouldn’t use genitalia name,” March 6:  Vagina. Vagina. Vagina.  Vagina is not a vulgar term, it is the correct Latin terminology for the female genitalia.

…  The word vagina makes many people uncomfortable, because our society deems this part of the female anatomy to be disgusting, off-putting, and something that one is not suppose to speak openly about.  In turn, women hate their vaginas and thus hate their bodies.  Women within our society are not supposed to enjoy sex, because our genitals do not deserve love.  Women aren’t supposed to speak about their vaginas, which can lead to health problems because—who wants to talk about the “V-Word?” Making the word vagina offensive does damage to women.

Men are allowed to speak openly about their privates, and they often do not use the correct terminology.  It is amazing that even within your letter, you have no trouble writing the word penis, but you never mention the word vagina.  Men, including even you, have no problem saying penis.  Some men even have no problem openly comparing their shape and size to other males around them.  I’ve never heard a woman boastfully talk about how “big” hers’ is to another woman. Women have to deal with the societal pressure of being ladylike, and therefore they should not say such things.

…

Both of our letters encompass the same theme.  Words are powerful.  Next time try to analyze the reasons behind your discomfort over a word and its context before judging others.  Keep an open mind, because you might just learn something.

Laura Hummel

Junior, women’s studies/psychology

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