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Here's to more vaginas on television

By clembastow on Mar 04 2010, 10:47AM

If you were online or browsing Twitter last night while Hungry Beast was on, you will have noticed one overwhelming trend (though not, sadly, an actual Trend): vaginas. Vaginas, vaginas, #vaginas.

Back for a second season, ABC's youthful (if not "youth") news/investigative/whatever show continued its leap from strength to strength with a piece on labiaplasty.

You know, when women who've become convinced their labia are weird or wrong or "too big" go and have bits chopped and shaved off so they can look pretty and neat.

If my tone doesn't suggest it, it's probably worth my telling you right now that this is one of the most insidious, dangerous and downright loony developments in the field of cosmetic surgery.

In any case, I was out at the time but the flood of #vaginas in my Twitter feed meant that as soon as I was able to watch the segment online (the magic of technology!) I did so.

Here it is (heed their warning: labiaplasty is a thousand kinds of disturbing):

Oddly enough, the bit that stuck with and disturbed me the most was the porn mag graphic designer's phrase "healed to a single crease".

(The "Vag Voxies" were also wonderful; indeed, the vox pop segments of the show - and online content - have become a law unto themselves and almost worthy of an entire, standalone show.)

Putting aside my personal bugbear regarding the use of the word "vagina" as a catch-all term for the female genitalia (technically we're talking about vulvas, labia and cunts here, really), I think it's terrific that Hungry Beast have shone a light on this loopy trend.

It's not the first time the topic has aired in Australia - last year, SBS showed the documentary The Perfect Vagina, which also covered labiaplasty; it was memorably reviewed by Marieke Hardy - but I daresay it's the first time that this particular demographic has been exposed to the lunacy.

Let's face it, vaginas - in fact, most things to do with actual living, breathing women - are anathema to television. We can't even bring ourselves to admit that tampons and pads are used TO SOAK UP MENSTRUAL BLOOD.

This Always ad from the States is literally the only time I have ever, ever heard the word "period" used to spruik women's "products":

And even then, they still have to resort to the blue liquid.

So, I think it's great that Hungry Beast have tackled the issue that shouldn't even be an issue. Their straight-talking, casual manner perfectly suited the topic - in any other hands it could have been "icky" or, worse, a bit titillating.

Instead, it was compelling and enlightening. I struggled with Hungry Beast in its initial incarnation, not because of the (incorrect) popular opinion that it was "undergraduate", but because it swung wildly between Chaser-esque satire and genuinely intriguing (and often moving) documentary snippets.

They seem to have struck a better balance in this second season, and I look forward to seeing what they come up with as this installment continues.

Here's hoping that they get even more vaginas on the television.

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thanks Clem, that was really (whispering)-eye opening

Kinna ON 04 Mar 2010 12:16:40PM

I find hungry beast a bit hit or miss too, but this segment was really interesting and very well done. I thought their investigation of the possible link between classification guidelines of soft porn and the increase in labiaplasty very thought-provoking. I personally think everyone should go to a few life drawing classes to be exposed to a wide range of 'normal' body types.

MisK ON 04 Mar 2010 03:00:18PM

Yay Hungry Beast and yay Clem! Boo the classifications board and boo healed single creases!

coco ON 04 Mar 2010 05:44:32PM

Visual dissection of the vagina (labia) is terrible, however, visual distortion of the human body in magazines is also an issue, 'cut' away fat, 'smooth' skin, remove skin blemishes and extend limbs. It's all the business of selling the perfect body. The issue between the vagina and the classification board as presented in the story may have some merit, yet, the way the classification board member was edited (sliced and diced) to fit the endgame of the story cannot be overlooked. What I miss though is BBB (Big Black Bush).

JDDJ ON 05 Mar 2010 06:42:57AM

Helen Vnuk has covered this topic extremely well in her book "Snatched", about the role of the Classification Board here in Australia, and how the Xristian Xrazies are turning the clock back to the 1950's. It's a must-read for anyone concerned about how a small minority of narrow minded people have so much control over what we read and see.

Aqualung ON 05 Mar 2010 11:51:27AM

Just what is going through women's minds. How have we reached this point where women believe they have to make such radical alterations to their bodies to become more attractive? Silicon implanted breats look exactly like silicon implanted breats, yuk. Then there is the latest fashion to get a tattoo, double yuk. Unlike your flares or hipsters a tatto can't be left in the bottom draw when they go out of fashion. Now we have labiaplasty, yuk, yuk and treble yuk. At this rate us real men won't have anything left to 'perve' at......

Zappa ON 16 Mar 2010 01:34:11PM

I love that you and hungry beast covered this. The part where you actually see the surgeons cutting off the labia minora - SHIIIIET, it's like mutilation! Where to from here?

MiaMuse ON 17 Mar 2010 04:50:15PM

Trotting out the old Infinity commercial again to make the same tired point. Some of us are paying attention.

Misanthrope ON 19 Mar 2010 10:40:29AM

This is so stupid, it is half a step away from female circumcision. But I guess anyone dumb and vain enough to get their vagina trimmed get what they deserve. Unless you are a stripper, hooker or just a slut, surely poeple will judge you on other things than protruding labia lips.