According to researchers from the University of Queensland School of Psychology, women think that modified vaginas look more normal, well, normal ones.
<sarcasm>Excellent.</sarcasm>
In their experiment, researchers surveyed 97 women aged between 18 and 30. The women were divided into three groups.
One group was shown pictures of modified genitalia i.e. of vaginas that had undergone labiaplasties, or other forms of surgical ‘enhancement’. (Yeah, we’re not sure that’s the right word either.) The second group was shown pictures of unaltered genitalia, and the third group wasn’t shown any images.
Then, each group was shown a mix of altered and unaltered genitalia and asked to rate their ‘normality’ and how well they fit ‘society’s ideal’.
The study found that women who had initially viewed the modified vulvas identified the modified images in the second screening as more normal than the non-modified vulvas. This was significantly different from the control group, who initially viewed no images, and were 18% less likely to rate the modified vulvas as normal.
Furthermore, when asked to rate the images according to society’s ideal of genitalia, women in all three groups rated the modified images as more like society’s ideal than the non-modified vulva images. Again, women who initially viewed the modified images were 13% more likely to rate the modified vulvas as more society’s ideal than the control group.
In short, the women who were exposed to images of modified vaginas (i.e. the types of vaginas that are mandated in the Australian entertainment and media industry, and thrust upon us in a world of, not only surgical, but, digital alteration) were more likely to view those vaginas as normal and ideal.
The paper’s lead researcher, Claire Moran, told the BCOJ:
“These findings further heighten concerns that unrealistic concepts of what is considered normal may lead to genital dissatisfaction among women, encouraging women to seek unnecessary surgery.
“This research is the first to document the extent to which exposure may impact women’s genital dissatisfaction and more needs to be done to promote awareness and education around genital diversity in our society.”
Too right. Good on ya, UQ!
Do you think that the rise of designer vaginas is something we should be worried about?
Top Comments
This is a women against women issue. Men don't care what it looks like between your legs.
I agree that men with experience pretty much don't - they're probably just happy to be allowed around it! But the concern is that a huge number of boys and men see a tidal wave of porn, before they ever even see a real vulva - let alone a whole bunch of them that they can compare.
If boy/men grow up with every vulva they see in porn being hairless with small labia minora, it is a perfectly logical reaction for them to be surprised, or even weirded out, if they are then introduced to a vagina with large labia minora (let alone a full bush covering it, or any other differences). They might think the girls vulva is "messed up" or "gross", simply because they have no way of knowing that actually it's perfectly normal, healthy and beautiful.
I think it's similar with boobs. Many men and boys would be used to seeing either perfect natural tits, or big perky fake ones now. I'm sure there are a huge number of guys (and girls) out there who look at a normal pair of healthy (and traditionally "perky" and "good") boobs and think they are saggy or something by comparison to what they're used to in porn or film. It's really sad.
Yes and no. At the age most kids start having sex now the girls boobs will still be young and perky so that won't matter. Also they will be too excited and nervous to be critical. I believe this is a manufactured issue. I don't doubt girls are feeling the pressure but I do doubt its coming from boys. I also think that the size issue is just as strong for boys with their penis as girls with boobs more so even. Boys don't have a bench mark whereas you can see how big every girls boobs are. So they have the internal anxiety with the only source of comparison being porn.
When I was young it was not uncommon for girls to tease boys about having a pin Dick and holding out the little finger. I don't think I can ever recall boys talking about girls regarding the shape of their labia.
Hmm. Women against women is it? So that would be the fault of all those female legislators demanding the censorship of actual female genitalia in the Australian media and entertainment industry?
Can I give a male point of view?
99% of us wouldn't care one way or another what a woman's vagina/vulva/labia looks like. We intuitively understand that everyone's different and would no more comment on it than we would on the shape of your ear lobe, unless we're in one of those snuggly post coital moments. The 1% who might care or comment have other issues going on and you'd be well advised to use any comment like a canary in the mine shaft. Run.
Media noise and click bait headlines don't mean you suddenly have some sort of new ideal to live up to. No one, least of all men, is giving labia size any thought. Have a great day!