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New York, 3:35 PM
Sat Nov 28
24 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/11/09
In other words, their comparison to FGM (which, by the way, comprises a single sentence with no direct support or analysis), was likely used to draw attention to what they see as a dangerous elective surgery whose consequences have not been studied adequately.
However, there are no scientifically valid conclusions drawn in this literature review about medical outcomes of these surgeries, and there is definitely no real comparison made to FGM.
However, hopefully, the authors' wishes will come true, and someone will do a well-controlled clinical study to actual ask the questions that this article raises. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
11/11/09
Seeing this image made me think of Wanda Sykes' routine and imagine her saying: "Sorry, it's in the shop right now."
But seriously - most elective surgery, to me, falls into the realm of vanity body-modification, like tattooing, scarification, piercings, or implants, to name a few. If someone wants to do that, research it and consider it carefully. Consider the real reasons behind wanting to do it; It's just possible that finding out why one wants to make a change like this is money much-better-spent. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
Didn't Jenna Jameson have plastic surgery on her labia? And wasn't she horribly depressed by the results? #vaginalplasticsurgery
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Good question. This, I think, is something that plagues most women. I mean, usually it's not even "hate FGM, also feel self-conscious about my non-designer vagina," it can be as mind-bending as "Hate plastic surgery, want plastic surgery," or "Hate pornography, consume pornography," "hate fat-hating culture, hate my fat ass, hate photoshopped images, desperately desire to look like cover model," etc. That's really the rub of the incredible, pervasive job marketing has done to our society (by which I mean US culture, because that's where I live).
I definitely still struggle with vast amounts of internalized patriarchal settings. But I also rail, hard, against the patriarchy. Since I came to terms with it, my own internalized patriarchal desires and impulses have just become one more thing I hate about the patriarchy. I hate that I live in a culture that says I must be pretty. I also hate that I'll never be pretty enough. I hate myself for wanting to be pretty almost as much as I hate myself for being ugly. It's really just a system designed to make you hate yourself no matter what ideological stance you take. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
11/11/09
I think it's the same thing with this. We hear over and over how unperfect regular people are, and that it's disgusting. And therefore, we are disgusting, too. I'm not sure where you come from, but where I come from, it's a huge taboo to be arrogant. You are not supposed to talk up your achievements. Instead, no matter how important what you've done is, you play it down like it's not that big of a deal, you were only part of a bigger movement and they deserve all the credit. That translates to our own feelings about ourselves. If we think we're good enough as-is, we are arrogant, rude and self-absorbed, perhaps even delusional. Most people don't want to be seen as those things (especially women feel pressure to be polite and nice), and try to balance how they really feel with how they "should" feel. "Should" feel wins out, because we aren't allowed to be arrogant (read: satisfied with ourselves). We are pressured to improve, edit, work on problems, better ourselves, fight the clock, etc. It's constant. And when you say "no" to all that, there is insurmountable pressure to join back in.
I do not wear makeup, nor skirts and heels. A lot of that has to do with my gender identity issues, but there is always some jackass who likes to inform me I'd be "so much prettier if [I'd] just do something with [myself]". My mom does the same thing. Actually, most people, if pressed, feel that way. We watch shows like What Not to Wear and other makeover shows, with people who look like us, yet their husbands, wives, friends and family think they are not attractive enough. We place ourselves there. Maybe they will love me more if I look the right way. We don't think that way verbatim. It's muddled up in so many thoughts - well, I have fat thighs, so maybe this cut of jean will make them look slimmer. I have this part of my body that I find attractive, so I play it up (usually eyes, and I think that's because there is so little you can do to change them). It's nip, tuck, pick apart and emphasize to "look our best" so we are professional, look happy, well cared for, "radiant" and any other host of very desirable qualities. We want to look happy, and therefore be happy.
That's why we can hate ourselves so much, and hate what we are pressured to do. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
All this tells you is just how insidious patriarchal beauty ideals are. It's not a comment on your lack of brains or strength - not at all. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
11/11/09
Really, I've got no trouble distinguishing between corrective procedures and cosmetic surgeries. My pussy is fucking fine. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
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11/11/09
Like many people I have body issues and just a year ago I probably would have used the word deformed when it came to different aspects, even though that would be a total exaggeration. I am a lot more accepting now and maybe by the time I could afford surgery I will no longer feel the need for it - except for the breasts of course.
I just see how women fall into the trap of needing things done. I feel like if I had one messed up part that is doable but then if this is saggy, and this is too long, and there is a mole here, etc - how can anyone find that attractive? #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
11/11/09
He has mostly straight teeth except one slightly crooked tooth which you can just kind of see when he does this grin of his. I love it so much and it sorta of makes me realize if we all fixed ourselves than we really wouldn't have these endearing imperfections. I just wish I could believe people think the same of my faults.
I would never do something like my nose even though I have always disliked it intensely, that is just too much like changing my core architecture. But I am all for the minor fix-ups. It drives my mom insane. She is very against all things, unless for medical necessity. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
I'm not sure that your longer labia is the issue here. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/12/09
The solution for problem A: boyshorts. The solution for problem B: get a bigger size and better-made pointy shoes.
That said there are so many conflicting images out there. I've certainly read about things like breast lifts and liposuction, just because there's so much pressure.
11/12/09
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11/11/09
I might adopt that typo to replace "vajayjay". #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
(sung to the tune of Bananas in Pajamas) #vaginalplasticsurgery
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11/11/09
Ok, I'm done. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
FIN. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
11/11/09
I'm glad you mentioned that, because even some vaginoplasty can improve the quality of a woman's life. I actually have a friend who had surgery on her vagina after childbirth due to an adhesion that occurred when she healed badly after some... erm... tearing. It helped relieve a lot of pain for her, and made sex bearable again. It sucks that doctors are advertising these types of procedures to "fix" a perfectly good vagina. It sucks worse that suddenly we have more insecurities piled on us. We're too fat, too skinny, have boobs that are too small, have too much cellulite, and now our labia are too big.
11/11/09
It doesn't make any sense to me. Plastic surgery is enough of a mystery to me to begin with...but a nose job or boob implants makes more sense than "fixing" something that most people aren't going to see. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
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11/11/09
Now that the grand ol' internet is around, you can photoshop, edit and correct to your heart's content. From what I've seen, the more "hardcore" it is, the less likely it is to have overdone airbrushing.
I don't know. I feel like the softcore porn, the light hardcore stuff shows a lot of computer touchups, and in turn, the "symmetrical" labia majora minus minora. I could be waaaaay off base, though. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
Either way, its a form of body dysmorphia. I think there's a website out there somewhere that shows a variety of (non-aroused) genitalia of women of various ages and ethnicity. It just shows the huge variety of what we look like down there. I wish for the life of me I could remember the website. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
While I don't disagree that there is a veritable rainbow of vaginas to be found in porn, I think the average consumer sees the most prevalent images (which happen to be "ideal"). #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
The real question is whether or not they are normally distributed :D OH STATISTICS, I HATE YOU. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
I would say that, with very few exceptions*, the only difference between most plastic surgery and the ritual acts of violence done to women's bodies is the presence of choice and autonomy. It's a big (very big) difference, but it's not really big enough for me to get behind, say, breast implants.
*Like this post mentioned, gender reassignment surgery, breast reductions, or cleft-lip treatments (is that even considered cosmetic surgery?) don't fall into this category. In situations in which someone is getting facial reconstruction surgery, or something, after an accident or because of some medical problem, that's a whole other kettle of fish as well, but one who's difference from plastic surgery of the nose/boobs/ass fixin' variety is more difficult to articulate. #vaginalplasticsurgery
11/11/09
11/11/09
I'd definitely put choice in quotation marks. No need for an actual male "agent of patriarchy" as @J.D.Regent said. We, women, are agents as well. #vaginalplasticsurgery
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11/11/09
Slight edit "We live in times where we are much more open about our bodies - and accepting them - and ignoring the misogynistic bastards who want to profit from the insecurities they create is simply a part of this." #vaginalplasticsurgery
12/13/08
12/13/08