opinion

Misguided Notions: A Look at How Vulvas Have Been Misunderstood Throughout History

Misguided Notions: A Look at How Vulvas Have Been Misunderstood Throughout History

When the U.K. cervical cancer charity Jo’s Trust recently included the term “bonus hole” in a glossary of language relating to trans and nonbinary people, as an “alternative word for the vagina,” it sparked fervent online backlash. Reading some of the responses, I reflected that this was not the first time we have struggled to articulate ourselves when it comes to vulvas.

It’s no wonder, given the male-led narrative surrounding female genitalia since the dawn of time. Even the word “vagina” itself, which means “sheath” in Latin, defines female anatomy in relation to male genitalia — essentially, a resting place for the all-mighty sword. The Latin word for shame, pudenda, was used to describe all genitals, but only stuck to the female of the species.

Lost amid all the stigma and censorship is the fact that the vulva is an incredible organ.

Of course, these are hardly the most egregious insults in the long and storied history of the vulva. The ancient Greek physician Aretaeus believed the uterus wandered about the female body like an “animal within an animal,” causing illness as it banged into other, presumably manlier, organs. More recent “experts” like Sigmund Freud advised those with vulvas that clitoral orgasms were more “immature” than vaginal ones — whatever that means.

Somehow, millennia of vital, female-led yoni art celebrating the power to give life gave way to art depicting women lifting their skirts and using their horrifying genitals to ward off demons. This certainly adds to the narrative that vulvas are to be feared for their power and repulsiveness. As for Barbie, that overtly buxom example of female sexuality — and for so many of us, our first — well, hers don’t even exist. If that isn’t erasure, what is?

It wasn’t until the 1600s that the vagina was even officially named. Modern gynecology is a mere century old, and the discovery of the G-Spot significantly younger than that. Shockingly, it wasn’t until 1994 that the U.S. National Institutes of Health mandated that most clinical trials must include women. These are not great numbers when it comes to women’s gynecological health or the attitudes surrounding it.

With the medical and cultural narrative having shifted only ever so slightly over centuries, is it any wonder that we still struggle to talk about female genitalia with anything other than shame?

Current stats tell an equally sad story. According to a 2020 poll, an estimated quarter of U.S. women don’t know where their vagina is. The poll found that 46% of women couldn’t point out the cervix, and 59% suggested a different body part when asked to identify the uterus. A study conducted by American public health researchers found that up to half of those with vulva pain never raised their concerns with their doctor, at least partly because of stigma. And in 2019, Refinery29 asked over 3,000 female readers what they thought about their own vulvas and vaginas. Half had concerns about the appearance of their vulva while a third felt theirs were not “normal.”

A similar recent study by Italian brand Nuvenia reveals that 34% of women feel embarrassed by their vulva. Even more worrying statistics are those that reveal why — even in 2023 — it’s so tricky to talk about them. It’s a little known but worrisome fact that most of the words surrounding vulva healthcare are also the most banned words on social media. “Vagina” is Facebook’s most flagged word; others include vulva, discharge, clitoris, cervix, nipples, puberty, labia minora and labia majora. It’s hardly surprising, then, that according to the same research, 70% of women don’t feel comfortable talking about those things.

It’s the same issue we, as sex toy manufacturers, face when we struggle to explain to those who make the rules why wellness and pleasure are inextricably linked. It seems inconceivable that those seeking information or — even more crucially, in my opinion — seeking to educate those with vulvas about vulvas, should be banned for using the correct terms. Yet that is the case.

Lost amid all the stigma and censorship is the fact that the vulva is an incredible organ. Scientists are only just beginning to explore its carefully balanced microbiome and the capabilities of the billions of bacteria within. We already know they protect life, fight disease and can be used diagnostically; imagine the potential when we understand more. And of course, if we’re talking about customer base, we all know that vulvas and sex toys are a match made in heaven.

So, let’s not be compliant in this narrative, or let Janelle Monae and her vulva trousers do all the heavy lifting. As makers of toys beloved by those with vulvas, we want to help and appeal to customers no matter whether they say "vagina," "bonus hole" or anything else. But more than that, we need to understand that the wider this conversation can go, the better overall for everyone’s genital health. We all have a part to play in spreading the word.

Julia Margo is the co-founder and COO of sex toy company Hot Octopuss, which in 2013 created the world’s first “Guybrator."

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

WIA Profile: Sara Gaffoor

Though it may seem surprising to outsiders, industry veterans are well acquainted with the self-esteem, personal growth and rewarding career achievements that can come with a job in the sex toy space.

Women in Adult ·
profile

Zhe Founder Karyn Elizabeth Creates Gender-Affirming Lingerie Fashion

For years, the mainstream lingerie market has been shaped by narrow beauty standards and cisnormativity, with little room for gender diversity. Most lingerie is designed to fit cisgender female bodies, while trans people are often forced to go DIY with uncomfortable solutions like pantyhose, duct tape and ill-fitting shapewear.

Naima Karp ·
profile

Neon Coyotes Sets the Tone for Trendiness With Bespoke Leather Kink Wear

If your kink wear can’t readily make the leap from a dark BDSM dungeon to a sunny, mimosa-fueled brunch, you haven’t yet been initiated into the cult of the Neon Coyotes — fresh, leather kink wear brand transforming restraints into runway-ready art.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Why It's Time for Adult Retail to Embrace AI

In the late 1980s, I was working in the rental car business. My first company didn’t have a single computer. Everything — contracts, inventory, employee records — was done by hand. If you wanted a report, you dug through paper files and crunched numbers on a calculator. It was tedious, but it was all we knew.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

What Retailers Gain by Partnering With Family-Run Brands

In an age increasingly dominated by corporate consolidation and faceless supply chains, choosing to work with a family-owned and operated business can offer retailers a depth of value that goes far beyond pricing and product margins.

Briana Watkins ·
opinion

How the 'Back Massager' Vibrator Became the World's Most Versatile Sex Toy

Wand vibrators are once again having a pop culture moment. Recently, Harry Styles expanded his lifestyle brand, Pleasing, by introducing a “Pleasing Yourself” double-sided wand vibrator developed in collaboration with sex educator Zoë Ligon.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

Strategic Retail Buying in a Shifting Pleasure Economy

Retail buying has never been a static job, but recent volatility in pricing, caused by shifting tariffs, global import costs and freight variations, has demanded a new level of agility for adult industry buyers and managers. As business expenses rise, so does the pressure to optimize the return on every product.

Rin Musick ·
profile

WIA Profile: Cynthia Wielgosz Elliott

The past year has been a challenging one for the team at premier lubricant manufacturer Sliquid. Late in 2024, company co-founder Dean Elliott passed away after battling cancer, though he managed to flash his wide, signature grin until the very end.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Michigan's Intimate Ideas Offers Playful Retail Setting for Wide Range of Shoppers

Jerry Manis, the regional manager of Intimate Ideas’ Michigan stores, never planned on working in adult retail — but he says it’s turned out to be a surprisingly rewarding gig.

Quinton Bellamie ·
opinion

Kraig McGee Blends Family Values, Creative Background at TAF Distributing

Walk into any Adam & Eve store in the Mountain West region of the U.S. and you’ve likely stumbled into a TAF Distributing outfit. Owned by industry veteran Kraig McGee Jr. and staffed by his closest family members, McGee’s 35 TAF-operated stores span 13 states, from woodsy Idaho to scenic Utah and well beyond.

Colleen Godwin ·
Show More