Kaitlin Kellam
Dr. Samanta
Introduction to Women’s and Gender’s Studies
24 March 2010
Society’s Vagina
Women have been put through the gauntlet when it comes to body image. They have always been
told they are too fat, too skinny, too outspoken, too independent, unintelligent, incapable, and even
unworthy of simple human rights. There has always been pressure to be the best, even if it means taking
the most drastic measures. The worst part is it’s not ultimately their fault. This image of “perfection” has
been drilled into the minds of women by the media and culture all throughout history. This is not only
true in the United States, but also in developing countries. As if women weren’t having enough trouble
striving for the ideal body, women are also having their vaginas criticized and altered to conform to the
status quo. This precious part of the female body is not only being tampered with, but, in some cases, is
being terminally damaged. For some, this alteration is a choice. But, for others, it is a societal
requirement. The question is, though- Is this “choice” really choice, or is it mere pleasant adherence to a
societal norm?
Simone Davis’ essay, “Designer Vaginas”, discusses the new trend in America’s world of plastic
surgery: labiaplasty. Since breast implants weren’t enough, women can now also make their genitalia like
that of any model they choose. During this procedure, the doctor trims away some of the labia and injects
fat to make it seem less “droopy” (Davis 2002, 287). One would think that going through this must allow
for more pleasure during sex-wrong. It actually does not impact pleasure at all and is “sheerly cosmetic in
purpose” (Davis 2002, 287). So, why do it? Well, for many women, it seems they do it because they
think it will make them feel better about themselves. They believe that if their labia are not droopy or
long, that they will be prettier. Sadly, these women feel as if they are not normal if they are not like
models they see posing for Playboy. Obviously, these models have been air-brushed, Photoshopped, and
have most likely had surgery themselves, bringing women back to this endless desire to look like
someone that is not even real. Men and women both are being fed these images of what a vagina should
look like by magazines such as Playboy, Hustler, and other porn manufactures. So, this image of a full
vulva is being made mainstream, and people are buying into it. These consumers do seem to be satisfied
with the procedure, however. Self confidence, freedom of choice, and forming bonds with other women
are just a few of the justifications for getting this kind of procedure done. They now feel that they are up
to par with other’s vaginas, and, thus, feel more comfortable about themselves (Davis 2002). Does this
make it okay, though? Does “having the right to choose” overpower the obvious problem with society?
They may have chosen to have the procedure, but they did not choose what constitutes the “ideal” vagina.
Herein lays the problem. Consent isn’t really consent if you are forced into believing its right. Women
have been forced to believe their bodies will never be perfect, and now, society has taken this to a point
where it never should have gone.
Women in some other countries don’t even have this level of consent, as told through Rogaia
Abusharaf’s essay, “Unmasking Tradtion”. These kinds of procedures are actually forced on them literally. In Africa, Female Genital Cutting has risen to awful numbers and is expanding into many
countries. The procedure of female circumcision, or genital mutilation, is of common practice within
many of these African cultures. Young girls are often required to have this surgery without anesthesia,
making it even more painful. The surgery is done by a midwife, with unsterile utensils, and in inadequate
environments for such a practice. There are three main types of operations-clitoridectomy, excision, and
infibulation. A clitoridectomy is when “part or all of the clitoris may be removed” (Abusharaf 2006, 93).
During an excision, “the clitoris and part of the labia minora, the inner lips of the vagina, are cut away”
(Abusharaf 2006, 93). An infibulation, the most drastic of the three, is when “the clitoris and labia minora
are removed, and then the labia majora, the outer lips of the vagina, are stitched together to cover the
urethral and vaginal entrances” (Abusharaf 2006, 93). There is only an opening left for menstrual blood,
urine, and for sex. But since it is so small, it’s made to only benefit the man during intercourse. Such
practices have many side effects, such as urinary tract infections, birth defects, tetanus, HIV, and even
death. These women pay a huge price to follow what their society views as necessary. For many
countries, they believe this is a way to ensure virginity and purity in their women. Others believe that
removing these parts will “dull women’s sexual enjoyment” (Abusharaf 2006, 93). This is ironic because
these procedures are referred to as female circumcision, yet are meant to reduce pleasure. When a male is
circumcised, it is safe, clean, and helps promote more pleasure during sex. To make matters worse, these
procedures are often forced because it makes women more marriageable. It is seen in some cultures that
this is necessary, and if not done, may result in the women becoming a failure in the eyes of society. She
may be made fun of as a child and, as an adult, never be able to get married and have kids. Thus, these
operations may be good in the eyes of these societies, but they are certainly not beneficial to the lives of
these women and children. People who undergo this treatment are changed forever, and it’s all because
these societies used their stamp of approval (Abusharaf 2006).
The justifications behind these two procedures, labiaplasty and female circumcision, are based off
culture. Both procedures help individuals become accepted in society and make them feel up to par. In
both essays, Davis and Abusharaf bring all justifications back to society. Once society makes its stamp of
approval, all is well. Still, there are major differences in these procedures and the reasoning behind them.
In America, women do have more of a choice over altering their genital features. This may not make the
operation morally correct, but it does instill more humility in the practice. Whereas in Africa, these girls
are treated as if their body is not theirs, and they must submit themselves to this torture in order to survive
in the culture (Abusharaf 2006). Another major difference in the justifications of each practice is the
through the extent of the surgery. A labiaplasty is not as brutal as a clitoridectomy, excision, or an
infibulation. So, women in America justify such procedures by weighing the outcome. Just like many
other cosmetic surgeries, women that are willing to do it are more than accepting of the pain. They justify
such procedures by the results (Davis 2002). After all, “beauty is pain”. In Africa, women justify these
actions through the outcome too, but in a different way. Just as women in America, they want their bodies
to look a certain way, but not just for cosmetic reasons, for lifestyle reasons. They know that once the
pain is over and their body has been changed, they will no longer be the outcast. They will be more
accepted, by both other individuals and society (Abusharaf 2006). The sad thing about both countries,
America and Africa, is that they both force these ideas on women and have no intention of stopping it.
They not only begin the problem, they spread it like wildfire.
No matter how far women have come, we are never good enough. Society has always forced
women to compare their bodies, to fix their bodies, and, as a result, to no longer love their bodies.
Making women feel they need to change something as private and vital as their vagina has more than
crossed the line. I am baffled at the fact that women in America actually care this much about what their
vagina looks like. After all, in most cases, there are only a few people that get to see that much of a
female’s body. The people that have a “perfect vagina” have one because that is their job. So, unless we
all intend on being porn stars or Playboy models, going as far as surgery is utterly ridiculous and
unnecessary, if you ask me.
These procedures, in both America and Africa, prove just how much society believes women are
only good for their bodies, sex, and reproduction. Why else would there be such an obsession over their
genitalia? Even though some women have given their consent for such procedures, it does not make it
right that society forced the idea that their body was imperfect. This idea of a perfect body is truly
impossible to achieve, yet it is still pushed and still makes women feel they must live up to this
expectation. So, is “consent” a good enough justification for such drastic procedures? I don’t think so.
There is no consent without choice, and, thanks to society, the “ideal” woman has already been chosen.
Works Cited
Abusharaf, Rogaia. 2006. “Unmasking Tradition”. In An Introduction to Women’s Studies. Gender in a
Transitional World. Ed. Inderpal Grewal and Caren Kaplan, 91-98. 2nd. Ed.
Davis, Simone Weil. 2002. “Designer Vaginas”. In Women’s Voices, Feminist Visions. Ed. Susan Shaw and
Janet Lee, 287-293. Boston, MA: McGraw- Hill, 2009.