Today we're happy to welcome author Jill Sorenson to Heroes and Heartbreakers. She's been a frequent visitor here, and she has a new release—Aftershock—out now. Aftershock is about the events following a real earthquake (not the earth-shattering quakes heroines often have!) and how two people can find each other in a crisis. Jill is here to talk about a much more serious topic than natural disasters: The vagina. Thanks, Jill!
If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably seen my vagina tweets. I’ve been known to drop the v-bomb. I can’t remember why I started doing this, but it probably stemmed from my frustration over anti-vagina sentiments.
While the magic penis is loved by men and women alike, vaginas aren’t as celebrated. There are products designed to transform our lady parts into something smoother, prettier and more palatable. Most romance readers aren’t interested in f/f (two vaginas, eek!) and some are so turned off by descriptions of female genitalia that they prefer to read m/m.
Here are a couple of things readers seem to find distasteful:
1. Female body fluids, especially in generous amounts and when described as milky or creamy (two normal qualities). Male body fluids tend to be much more copious and acidic but are rarely grimaced at in romance.
2. Word choice. Every combination you can think of, from flowery euphemisms like “dewy petals” to in-your-face “wet cunt,” will have its detractors. There is no widely accepted terminology for female parts.
Maybe talking about vaginas will encourage us to be more comfortable with our bodies and with each other. I’m just trying to spread the vagina love. I know the word itself is a boner-killer. It sounds like a heart condition (angina) or a sneeze (gesundheit!). Should we try to think of a new word, or is that too much like vajazzling, putting glittery bits on our junk? I’m not against waxing, piercing or playing dress up. Have fun with your vagina! What I object to is the idea that natural = ugly.
The above quote is from a recent female-authored article. I’m so disappointed by statements like this. Not only are women internalizing a lack of respect for the female body, we’re perpetuating it. How many young ladies are too embarrassed to receive oral sex because they feel self-conscious about their bodies? I don’t think our sexual partners want us to be so inhibited. This is a lose-lose situation.
It’s time to end to vaginal discrimination! Maybe if vaginas had better names, we’d like them more. Let’s get vagical and brainstorm ideas. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
1. Vageen. It’s sort of French-sounding, for fancy vaginas.
2. Misty. If my vagina had a pet name, this would be it. And I would tell a young Clint Eastwood to Play Misty for Me.
3. Vagigli, a la Jennifer Lopez
4. Vagenie
5. V.J. (how about a VJ?)
6. Mrs. G
7. Lady jewels
Okay, those are all silly. It’s difficult to think of a word that appeals to mature women and conveys the importance of this hot, sexy, cozy, pleasure-giving, life-making, underappreciated body part.
Author Sarah Anderson has asked the vagina question before. I don’t know if we’ll ever reach a conclusion. Instead of renaming our parts, maybe we should just stop degrading them. Do we need a new term or a different attitude?
Tell me what your favorite word is or make up a new one! It can be fun, silly or sexy.
Jill Sorenson writes sexy romantic suspense for Harlequin and Bantam Dell. Born in a small town in Kansas, she moved to California at age twelve and fell in love with the Pacific Coast. After graduating with honors from CA State University (English major/Spanish minor), she decided to follow her dream of becoming a published author. She now lives with her husband and two young daughters in beautiful San Diego.
Visit her at www.jillsorenson.com.
