We all know how prestigious and reputed Lancet general medical journal is among not only medical fraternity but otherwise also. It is a weekly journal and is one of the world's oldest and top-read across the globe. Founded in 1823 by Thomas Wakley, an English surgeon, it got popular in no time because of its quality of content and gravity of relevance. Its name was derived by its founder from a surgical instrument with the same name. After the release of its latest volume 398, No. 10306, there is a huge furor across the globe because of an article published by Sophia Davis under 'Perspective' section of the journal on pages 1124-1125. The objection is on the phrase "Bodies With Vagina" used in place of "Women". The article titled "Periods on display" talks about an exhibition entitled Periods: A Brief History at the Vagina Museum in London, UK.
Source: The LancetThis article by Sophia Davis, Senior Editor, Lancet is very well researched, nicely structured, and interestingly driven starting with the silence, shame, and stigma associated with the menstruation and how the societies and cultures are opening up, challenging it, and boldly accepting it. In this regard, it refers to one of the best books busting taboos about menstruation by Emma Barnett titled as It's about Bloody Time. Period, published in 2019. It also talks about Period Poverty, i.e. lack of access to sanitary products and safety and hygiene issues associated with it. How period poverty combines with shame and lack of knowledge about menstruation, thus causing complex situations leading to missing schools, etc. hampering growth of girls in a calm and healthy manner. A number of initiatives are being taken across the globe by various agencies, organizations, activists, individuals, educationists, and governments.
I have read this 2-page intense article by Sophia Davis, and have understood the intent, gravity, and concerns raised by the author. Even when this phrase has been used, it is in a very different context, not at all demeaning or derogating women in any manner. I am a hundred percent sure that all those people and new agencies raising objection over it across various social media platforms are doing it without even reading this article or understanding it. What they are doing is just for their personal benefits. Coming back to the article that has a plenty of important and useful information, it talks about how a new wave of activists in their individual capacities, and at some place, in a collaborative manner are addressing various issues related to periods and menstruation.
Like, Rayka Zahtabchi, director, and Melissa Berton, producer, have been well acclaimed for their Oscar-winning documentary film titled "Period. End of Sentence." released in 2018. The movie is about a group of young women in an Indian village, learning about a machine that makes low-cost sanitary pads. In wake of this, Anita Diamant authored a book titled "Period. End of Sentence. A New Chapter in the Fight for Menstrual Justice" in 2021. This is just a bit of that excellent article. Now, coming to the controversial phrase "Bodies with Vagina", let me just quote the exact content used by Sophia Davis in her latest article only once and in a very relevant manner. You will be the right judge to say whether it is with an intent to insult women in any manner or it is used rightly. Do write below in comment section to give your views on it.
Historically, the anatomy and physiology of bodies with vaginas have been neglected—for example, the paucity in understanding of endometriosis and the way women’s pain has been seen as more likely to have an emotional or psychological cause, a hangover from centuries of theorising about hysteria. This
exhibition and the Vagina Museum as a whole aim to redress this lack of attention.
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