Vagina Museum

World's first bricks and mortar museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynae anatomy.

Website: https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/
Social links: https://beacons.ai/v_museum
Donate: http://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/donate

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vagina_museum_at_masto.ai@momostr.pink

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Last Notes

2025-05-01 10:14:42

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In O'Keeffe and Brennan's 2023 vagina primer paper, the authors adopt a broader definition of vaginas to include non-mammalian vaginas. They examine functional similarities which transcend whether or not the creature has a spine. You can read the entire thing here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982223006061

2025-05-01 10:12:06

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There are in fact lots of parts in lots of animals which are given various names, but *could* all meaningfully be called a vagina. Rachel M. Keeffe and vagina research rockstar Patricia Brennan have compiled this helpful table on various names given to these organs.
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/114/432/033/287/099/265/original/ccd567b85bf3290e.png

2025-05-01 10:07:18

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Now, we're going to take a little digression to celebrate duck vaginas. Ducks, we hope we don't need to tell you, are not mammals. Ducks also have *fascinating* internal genitalia, which comprise of a corkscrewing maze full of blind alleys wherein an unwanted penis can be sent into a dead end.
Is this cool bit of kit a vagina?

2025-05-01 10:05:23

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(in the interests of fairness, we'll mention that in its secondary definition, Merriam-Webster tautologically concedes that "vagina" could mean "a canal that is similar in function or location to the vagina and occurs in various animals other than mammals")

2025-05-01 10:03:02

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Now, all of these dictionary definitions have elements that we could spend days picking apart, such as "does a vagina inherently need to be moist?" and "does it cease to be a vagina after a hysterectomy?" but what we're really going to focus on is something they all have in common: the assertion that the vagina is a mammalian structure.

2025-05-01 10:00:23

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Collins really goes hog wild on description with its definition of vagina: "the moist canal in most female mammals, including humans, that extends from the cervix of the uterus to an external opening between the labia minora"

2025-05-01 09:58:27

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We'll start at the place that people go for a nice simple definition which absolutely misses all nuance and isn't a great place to learn biology: the dictionary.
Merriam-Webster gives us this: "a canal in a female mammal that leads from the uterus to the external orifice of the vulva"
Cambridge gives us this prounoun-laden definition: "the part of a woman or other female mammal's body that connects her outer sex organs to her uterus"

2025-05-01 09:55:43

What is a vagina? Finally, you sigh with relief, the Vagina Museum is out there answering a *simple* question.
We regret to inform you it's not that simple. It's actually fairly complicated, and here's why...

2025-03-14 11:02:25

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Around the world, reproductive rights are in crisis. LGBT+ rights are in crisis. Women's rights are in crisis. Arts and culture are in crisis. We are battered from all sides. It has had a serious impact on our short-term and long-term sustainability as a project. We need your help to survive. https://www.gofundme.com/f/btscc2

2025-03-14 11:00:35

The Vagina Museum is just one month away from closing. Forever. A perfect storm of circumstances means that we may have to close our doors permanently and cease all digital activities. But we're not going to go down without a fight. Save the Vagina Museum. https://www.gofundme.com/f/btscc2

2024-10-22 11:05:08

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"Twat" rhymes with "habitat". Create that perfect clean habi-twat with a Vagina Museum tea towel https://vaginamuseumshop.co.uk/collections/tea-towels

2024-10-11 10:59:47

We're thrilled to be hosting our very first Menopause Cafe at the Vagina Museum. Join us on 27th October at 2pm for hot drinks and friendly discussion about the menopause issues that matter to you https://www.outsavvy.com/event/23031/menopause-cafe-vagina-museum

2024-10-01 10:35:53

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In naming our galleries after Anarcha, Betsey and Lucy, we are ushering them into public discourse about racism in medicine. We are acknowledging the horrific violence that they suffered. We are reckoning with the racism and injustice still faced by Black women and women of colour in gynaecological care.

2024-10-01 10:34:21

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In recent years, anti-racist activism has drawn attention to the experience of the Mothers of Gynaecology. Plaques and statues celebrating the man who tortured them are being removed, and in their place, monuments to the Mothers of Gynaecology are being built.

2024-10-01 10:33:47

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In total, twelve women that we know of were subjected to experimental operations undertaken without their consent, without anaesthesia, and in front of an audience. Anarcha, Betsey and Lucy are the only ones whose names were recorded.

2024-10-01 10:32:35

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Anarcha, Betsey and Lucy were enslaved Black women living in 19th century Alabama. All three women had injuries following childbirth. They were subjected to multiple experimental surgeries, all performed without anaesthesia by a white physician who is lauded as the “Father of Modern Gynaecology”.
This man later became rich and famous, using the techniques he developed using human experimentation on white women, which he performed with anaesthesia.

2024-10-01 10:30:39

To coincide with #BlackHistoryMonth, we have named our three galleries to honour the Mothers of Gynaecology. From now on, these galleries will be known as Anarcha's Gallery, Betsey's Gallery, and Lucy's Gallery.

2024-07-02 14:58:29

FANNY FACT! About half of vulvas are asymmetrical - one of the inner labia is longer than the other.
If you're asymmetrical, about 70% of the time it'll be the left flap that's bigger.

2024-07-01 09:18:36

We are close to having raised £10,000 to make our menopause exhibition happen! This is the minimum amount we'd need to pull it off! Please donate what you can to support Menopause: What's Changed, the exhibition arts funders don't care about https://www.gofundme.com/f/r9tszw

2024-06-27 10:58:31

Our bank wouldn't let us put "Twat Union" as payment reference when paying Twat Union for their performance at the museum earlier this month, because "Twat", the name of the group, is apparently Too Rude. #TheStruggleIsReal

2024-06-26 10:00:15

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In the middle ages, it was a fairly well-accepted anatomical theory that the uterus was partitioned off into several sections. In general, anatomists *loved* partitioning body parts off into little bits, and the uterus was no exception.
There were various theories as to what the seven cells of the uterus (which, we reiterate, do not exist), actually did. In general, they were thought to relate to sex determination of the foetus.

2024-06-26 09:57:35

Early 16th century diagram of a uterus showing its seven distinct partitioned cells (very anatomically incorrect).
From Magnus Hundt, Antropologium de hominis dignitate, 1501
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/682/323/612/077/692/original/fd58a129121ae1b6.jpg

2024-06-14 09:40:47

For the #Bridgerton fans among you, here are five slang terms in use in the early 19th century which they might have used for vaginas:
▼ Fancy article
▼ Old Ding
▼ Merry bit
▼ Pin-cushion
▼ Mrs Fubbs's Parlour

2024-06-13 09:00:08

Wow, what an amazing first day we've had. We are now 10% of the way towards our goal to help us make this menopause exhibition happen when no arts and heritage funders wanted to support it!
https://masto.ai/@vagina_museum/112603103927453956

2024-06-12 10:10:10

We are unfortunately crowdfunding again. We approached more than 15 arts and heritage funders to support an exhibition about menopause. Absolutely none of them chose to do so. We find ourselves in a situation where nobody wants to fund menopause - so we’re asking you. https://www.gofundme.com/f/r9tszw

2024-06-07 10:02:48

THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM THE MUSEUM OF MANKIND. ATTEND OUR MANLY WISDOM.
The average Londoner in the cruel squalor of the Plastic Age, lived a hierarchical society, dominated by clans. It may surprise you to learn that despite their barbaric lifestyle, there was relative peace.
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/574/755/165/357/547/original/92fd173b49c67b1e.jpg

2024-06-05 09:54:09

It's been a while since we've shown you a weird fad in medieval Christian art, so here's one you might enjoy - Lactatio Bernardi: The Lactation of St Bernard.
Date unknown, courtesy of Bodleian Library.
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/563/398/569/204/486/original/bd8131e5e4c6ee7e.jpg

2024-05-25 11:07:56

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And if you'd like to undertake feats of dexterity with some ritual training equipment, whatever your gender, why not try your hand at crocheting a clitoris? https://vaginamuseumshop.co.uk/collections/crafts/products/crochet-clitoris-pattern

2024-05-25 11:06:00

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Discover more biases in museum interpretation, history and archaeology at our exhibition The Museum of Mankind. Free admission, open Wed - Sun, 10am - 6pm at the Vagina Museum https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/exhibitions/current

2024-05-25 11:03:15

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Vagina Museum team here, logging back on. Sorry about that. We have no idea how Eugène Delacroissant got hold of our password. What's going on at the Museum of Mankind? It looks like they're applying gender roles where it makes no sense to. And this happens all the time...
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/501/373/930/862/549/original/7aa1b4b8aec3cd7a.jpg
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/501/365/204/022/600/original/05fcd44374a2acb6.jpg
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/501/389/537/565/620/original/e4d8dfd61f702f06.jpg

2024-05-25 10:52:14

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The Museum of Mankind team are especially proud to acquire this precious 21st century ritual training set. A man would use this to symbolically re-enact his farming prowess during times of famine. His pattern-making mind could create ritual designs. Only a man was sufficiently dexterous.
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/501/335/615/879/106/original/427b379ad52455cf.jpg

2024-05-25 10:48:24

This is a message from the Museum of Mankind. Look at these treasures from the Plastic Age. Can you even imagine living as a miserable Londoner in such barbaric times? In their crude way, these people did their best to amuse themselves, in any way possible.
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/501/313/162/132/389/original/49901ff40c014acc.webp

2024-05-15 12:38:29

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The impact of a generation of people receiving next to no education about LGBT+ people existing is difficult to quantify, and difficult to measure. How do you even begin to measure the stigma, and the impact of over a decade of invisibility?
Even in 2014, a Stonewall survey found that 37% of primary school teachers didn't know if they were allowed to teach about LGBT+ issues. And even in 2019, anecdotal reports suggested some librarians thought Section 28 was still in effect.

2024-05-15 12:32:59

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Activists worked tirelessly for the entire time that Section 28 was in effect. They campaigned for repeal, and the community mobilised to try to provide information in spaces where it was not prohibited.
Section 28 was repealed in Scotland in 2000, and in 2003 in the rest of the UK, following more than a decade of tireless campaigning to repeal the legislation.

2024-05-15 12:30:24

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A 1991 survey found that 86% of young people had never received any information about lesbians, including that they exist, at school.

2024-05-15 12:29:14

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Despite the activism and advocacy work, Section 28 passed on 24th May 1988. The wording of the legislation was vague and somewhat circular. Multiple clarifications were issued almost immediately.
In the 15 years Section 28 was in effect, there was not a single prosecution. This was largely because under such vague wording, there was a lot of self-censorship among teachers and local authorities.

2024-05-15 12:26:42

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The LGBT+ community mobilised in opposition to Section 28. Actor Sir Ian McKellan came out in a radio interview in response. Lesbians invaded a BBC news broadcast, chaining themselves to desks and sitting on chairs to make themselves heard. Marches took place across the country.
Image: London march in April 1988, Rick Colls/Rex/Shutterstock
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/445/087/091/765/206/original/fda991307d7f15a0.jpg

2024-05-15 12:21:18

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There was campaigning from many groups before the legislation was passed. The wording of Section 28 was ultimately tempered due to interventions from the arts sector, who were concerned about broader arts censorship; and specific exemptions for health were included.
The main opposition party, Labour, initially did not oppose the legislation, but changed their course when their rivals, the Liberal Democrats, came out against it.

2024-05-15 12:18:08

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The Conservatives won the election by a landslide, and felt they had the mandate to begin enacting their rhetoric. In their Local Government Act of 1988, they included Section 28, a provision which amended a previous Act to include:
(1) A local authority shall not—
(a) intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality;
(b) promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.

2024-05-15 12:12:00

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The 1987 general election included Conservatives making all sorts of unevidenced claims, such as that five year olds were being taught about the specifics of how two men had sex (they weren't). Attack posters about homosexuality were used, too.
1987 election poster designed by
Saatchi & Saatchi for the Conservative Party. Courtesy of Conservative Party Archive.
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/445/030/353/897/519/original/adeac1a0e936c1cc.jpg

2024-05-15 12:07:43

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Nevertheless, the governing Conservative party leaned into the moral panic, repeating spurious stories. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said "Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life."

2024-05-15 12:06:22

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In 1980s Britain, homophobia was rising. This was in part due to increasing visibility of LGBT+ people as laws criminalising homosexual sex were repealed, in part due to the AIDS epidemic, and in part due to joint activism between miners' unions and LGBT+ groups.
Spurious stories began appearing in the media regarding various texts said to be read in schools. Many of the books referenced were fairly banal, and also weren't present in schools.

2024-05-15 12:01:00

In May 1988, legislation passed in the UK "prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality" by local authorities. It was in effect for a decade and a half, with massive impact on the LGBT+ community. This is a brief history of Section 28.

2024-05-02 10:14:20

So this post broke containment slightly and ended up on the meme pages. We are happy to tell you everything you need to know about cloacas.
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/370/959/910/162/123/original/27d4d8a0b29b3438.png

2024-04-30 13:16:37

Can a museum exhibition contribute to science? Yes!!!! More than 12,000 people visited our exhibition, Endometriosis: Into the Unknown. Visitors were invited to contribute data to a pain scale. Thousands of responses were made throughout the exhibition...
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/360/342/668/694/851/original/7d2b30656aa276d7.jpg

2024-04-26 09:18:39

IMPORTANT LOST PROPERTY QUESTION! Did anyone visiting the Vagina Museum yesterday lose a little dalek?
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/336/769/962/047/376/original/5dd0b835191d83e1.jpeg

2024-04-23 10:34:32

OLD THREAD REPOST
HAPPY SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY! Here at the VM, we love a good pun, but Will was the master of pussy puns. Today, we'd like to be the cool English teacher sitting backwards on the chair, and present to you an annotated guide to some of the Bard's best sneaked-in vagina jokes...

2024-04-22 10:48:01

Happy #EarthDay, please enjoy this weird 17th century illustration titled "his nurse is the Earth".
From Atalanta Fugiens by Michael Maier, circa 1617-1618.
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/314/471/115/836/185/original/b903e848d3af6e5d.jpg

2024-04-18 12:37:14

At the end of our Museum of Mankind exhibition, we invite visitors to think about their own grave goods, and how future archaeologists might interpret them. This is the cutest response so far, and we love you, Lyra and Della 💓
https://s3.masto.ai/media_attachments/files/112/292/243/039/733/217/original/79f3708364d5b0d4.jpg