Reading about and discussing the
geographies of fear reminded me of some of the ways space is resisted and
produced, especially by women. Recently, the world’s first “Vagina Museum” was
created in London’s Camden Market. The museum aims to destigmatize women’s
reproductive health and sexuality. The goal is to educate people and dispel the
countless myths about women’s bodies. Some components of the museum’s mission
is to promote intersectional, feminist and trans-inclusive values, give confidence
to people to talk about issues surrounding the gynecological anatomy, and
act as a forum for feminism, women’s rights, the LGBT+ community and the
intersex community. The Vagina Museum is a space for women, the LGBT+
community, and anyone who seeks an inclusive environment to feel safe and
empowered. 
Currently,
three women work at the museum and have played a role in creating the space.
“Women are not passively experiencing space but actively take part in producing
it” (Whitson, 2017, pg. 88). The creators of the museum actively worked to
produce a space that is inclusive, accessible, and a safe space for dialogue
around important issues of gynecological anatomy. Another interesting aspect to
the museum is the importance placed on accessibility. The Vagina Museum seems
to value accessibility for people with mobility, visibility, and other
differences in ability. The museum website has a page dedicated to
accessibility questions and received an accessibility review through Euan’s
Guide. It appears the museum has attempted to anticipate needs and differences
to create a space people of all abilities can share experiences within.
Women
tend to be associated with the private sphere and “home”. The historical
separation of public and private space has limited the ability of women to
engage in society. Cultural norms and expectations have also limited discussion
and the understanding of women’s reproductive and sexual health. The Vagina
Museum highlights the common, and often dangerous, misconceptions about women’s
health and contraception. One shocking part of the museum depicts a Coca-Cola
bottle. In the 1950s and 1960s, a common wives’ tale used Coca-Cola as a form
of contraception after sexual intercourse, which is an ineffective method and
can lead to infection. The fear and stigma of openly discussing and educating
people on women’s reproductive health in public space has had negative
consequences on health. I think creating this space is a positive step for
women’s reproductive and sexual health, and important in producing a more
inclusive and open public space.
References
Euan’s Guide. (2019). Vagina museum. Retrieved from https://www.euansguide.com/venues/vagina-museum-london-10501/reviews/very-accessible-inclusive-and-informative---highly-recommend-10551
Vagina Museum. (2019). Our story. Retrieved from https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/
Whitson, 2017. “Gendering the Right to the City.” Pp.
77-105 in Feminist Spaces: Gender and Geography in a Global Context by
Ann M. Oberhauser, Jennifer L. Fluri, Risa Whitson and Sharlene Mollett. New
York: Routledge.
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteI think you made some really good points here and this is a space I hope I get the opportunity to visit! I feel you have brought to light two important topics to consider: the fear in/of public space as a woman and the socially normalized roles of women in the public sphere. As you mentioned there has always been a "historical separation of public and private space" which is even further limited for women to experience (Zgonc). I think it is safe to assume this sort of public restriction stems from the aforementioned fears in/of public spaces but also the gendered ideology that has dominated the home. I can see some overlap from our previous class discussions on the home, in that the ideals and expectations are very similar. For example, society imagines a "perfect" space, however, such a space is not "perfect" for every individual. Such spaces are often classed and sexualized. The foundation of the Vagina Museum is a great foot forward to provide spaces of acceptance rather than exclusion. Cities are places of encounter for everyday life, where rights can be realized and social belonging achieved, however in most urban centers it is hard to come by such spaces (Whitson, 2017). As there is a large shift toward urbanity, it is essential to understand the necessity of spaces such as the Vagina Museum and how they are an important contributor to the success and environment of a city. Thank you for sharing!
Emma, thank you for informing me about The Vagina Museum. I think places like this are very important, especially in public spaces like the London city center. I appreciated your inclusion of how public spaces are typically gendered male while the private sphere is gendered female because that also affects what is discussed in public. In my own experience, I was led to believe that my body was shameful and should not be discussed in public. I was taught to whisper when asking for a tampon, to hide it in my sleeve and walk discreetly to the bathroom. Places like the Vagina Museum, safe and open public spaces for all, help to normalize the discussion and education of people’s bodies, specifically those with vaginas.
ReplyDeleteSomething that interests me, however, are the inclusion of educational spaces like The Vagina Museum in rural public areas. The movement toward normalizing the female body tends to remain in city spaces or on/near college campuses (regardless of urban or rural surroundings). Movements “such as SlutWalk, Take Back the Night, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” and others often occur in urbanized public space (Whitson 2017, pp. 90). Typically, rural spaces have less affective sexual education programs, therefore they may be more in need of open and safe educational spaces like the Vagina Museum.
Overall, thank you for sharing your knowledge of this space and making me think about where monuments to the female body are placed.