In an effort “to confront society’s stigmas and stereotypes,” and to raise questions about why “society is so comfortable with the image of the penis and vulvas are considered taboo,” students from Scripps College in Claremont, Calif. held a “Project Vulva” event.
The event took place on Oct. 29 at the nearby Motley Coffeehouse and invited participants to attend an art show which displayed the results of asking people “Can you draw a vulva?” and had cupcakes for them to decorate as, you guessed it, vulvas.
To consider the event outlandish, vulgar, and sex-obsessed is one way of looking at it. There is no shame in having a vulva or a penis. They are normal body parts which women and men have. They are however genitals, and genitals are covered up. It’s not a sense of stigma so much as it is decency.
But that’s not the reason for the backlash surrounding the event. As the Daily Caller reported, the event was criticized in Facebook posts and replies for being “transphobic.”
This is even more odd considering that the event description addressed gender in a way that is certainly not transphobic:
Please note that we want to discuss the vulva beyond just a binary concept of gender. We want to talk about the vulva as it is involved in all perceptions of gender! Not all women have vulvas, and not all vulvas belong to women.
The misguided criticism is not the only aspect worth pointing out. Biologically speaking, this event is false and misleading. If you are a woman, you have a vulva, and a person who has a vulva is a woman. It’s not a matter of “cis and non-cis vulvas,” but accepting basic biology.
The event description includes a real gem, mentioning that “in middle school people would scribble penis pictures on the desks in the classroom.” Yes, and in middle school and high school people also learned that men have penises and women have vaginas, and vulvas.
Those not pleased with the event used other terms to express their displeasure, such as “transmisogynistic.” For instance, one post read:
Once again, it is a fact that men have penises and women have vulvas. In no way did the event description make this claim. By saying “not all women have vulvas, and not all vulvas belong to women,” they actually more so rejected it. The criticism then is not only bizarre, but unfounded.
The Motley Coffeehouse apologized to the trans community for hosting the event and even shamed their own establishment in a Facebook post.
The Motley Coffeehouse describes itself as “an intersectional, political and feminist business.” Its mission reads:
To be a socially responsible business that explores diverse feminist critiques
To foster independent thinking and purposeful change
It is also interesting to note that the coffeehouse asks certain questions for those wishing to host events, with original emphasis:
who is your intended audience for this event, and how could this potentially exclude individuals or groups on campus?
what, if any, religious or political affiliation/bias does your group have?
It seems what has “failed” is the objective truth behind words, biology, and gender.
