This is a momentous day for vagina-havers! The world’s first-ever museum dedicated solely to vaginas and vulvas is officially opening in London’s Camden Market in November.
The Vagina Museum’s goal is to educate the public and challenge the stigma around vaginas and vulvas. Founder Florence Schechter developed the idea after learning about the Iceland Phallological Museum, a museum dedicated to penises. There was no counterpart for vaginas — until now. Schechter raised £50,000 for the project on Crowdfunder.
“We want to give everyone the confidence to talk about a perfectly normal part of the anatomy,” development and marketing manager Zoe Williams told CNN.
“There’s nothing shameful or offensive about vulvas and vaginas. They’re a part of the body that should be celebrated!”
The museum’s mission statement says that it will also “act as a forum for feminism, women’s rights, the LGBT+ community and the intersex community,” “challenge heteronormative and cisnormative behavior,” and “promote intersectional, feminist and trans-inclusive values.”
On November 16, the museum will open its doors with an exhibition called “Muff Busters: Vagina Myths and How to Fight Them.” Williams says it will challenge “pervasive myths” about the vagina and vulva, “such as that vaginas and vulva need to be cleaned through the use of bespoke feminine cleaning products; however, the vagina is completely self cleaning.”
While the location in Camden Market is temporary, Schechter hopes to start work on a permanent building for the museum within the next few years.
What Do You Think?