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.
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.
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...
To us, creativity is about seeing and being seen. We provide a space for education, celebration, and the beginning of a conversation. In a world dominated by shame, we are a safe space and the start of a journey towards knowledge and empowerment.
Since you're all watching #Bridgerton, let's share again our investigation as to whether George III ate pussy. This is also highly applicable to all them men in Bridgerton, when you're assessing the historical accuracy of the show. https://masto.ai/
@vagina_museum My great-grandmother remembered that women in long skirts would simply stand just above the street gutter - and you could hear it burble. To make it easier, they didn't wear anything under their skirts. And they did it while standing, with their legs spread wide.
Tomorrow at the Vagina Museum, Amelia Loulli introduces her new poetry collection Slip in conversation with Kayla Martell-Feldman. Slip is a provocative and transformative collection exploring abortion with compassion and vulnerability https://www.outsavvy.com/event/18820/slip-exploring-abortion-through-poetry
More and more at-home microbiome testing kits are popping up on the market, sold directly to consumers. There hasn't been much peer-reviewed research into them yet, so let's take a look at a recent paper by Diane E. Hoffman and colleagues to find out what's known... https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk4271
The vaginal microbiome is a name for colony the microorganisms that live in the vagina, known as vaginal flora. The balance changes throughout life, and "good" bacteria such as Lactobacillus strains help the vagina to self-clean and prevent infections. Imbalances can result in infections. Research into the vaginal microbiome is in its infancy: we know a bit, but we don't know everything yet.
The other reason is that gynaecological health concerns are often dismissed by doctors. If you're having recurrent yeast infections or symptoms, sometimes it can be hard to feel heard and continue advocating for yourself. These tests can feel like they provide answers.
These are genuine and real problems that healthcare providers must address.
On this day in 1533, Italian anatomist Hieronymus Fabricius was born. In his work on foetal formation, he illustrated the uterus and vulva, somewhat idiosyncratically, and also illustrated the clitoris, fairly well.
All merch in the collection is designed by sex worker artists, and the proceeds from the collection are split to support our work, and NUM's work in ending violence against sex workers. Treat yourself! https://vaginamuseumshop.co.uk/collections/num-collab-collection
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.
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.
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.
1910 medical illustration showing sutures in the cervical stump following an abdominal hysterectomy. The text recommends suturing the stump to remaining ligaments to provide support to the pelvic floor and prevent prolapse.
The accompanying text also discusses a choice which still needs to be made when having a hysterectomy - albeit in rather 1910 terms:
"The question of leaving one ovary, or a portion of an ovary, in the pelvis has agitated men. It is certain that removal of both ovaries at once from a woman who has not yet passed the menopause results in more serious nervous disturbances than when ovarian tissue is left. After the menopause the removal of both ovaries causes less disturbance."
When having a hysterectomy, there's often a decision to be made as to whether to leave one or both ovaries in place. After menopause, it's usually recommended to remove them, due to cancer risk. Before menopause, if the ovaries are removed, the body will go through menopause as the ovaries are no longer present to produce hormones - this is not "nervous disturbances". A lot of the time, unless there's a very good medical reason to leave them in or take them out, the choice is yours.
We're sad to say that Kween Kream's cafe based at the Vagina Museum will be coming to an end this weekend. In a cost of living crisis, it has unfortunately become untenable for Kween Kream to run the cafe, despite us all working together and trying our very best to make this work.
This weekend is your last chance to visit Kween Kream at the Vagina Museum and enjoy some of their iconic sweet treats. They'll be open 11am-4pm today, Saturday and Sunday. After that, you'll be able to connect with them on their website if you'd like a private commission https://kweenkream.co.uk/
It's tough out there at the moment. Make sure you don't take the independent businesses and charities you love for granted. Take every opportunity to show your support and visit these places you love, to keep them in the world. https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/donate
There's no age limit to the Vagina Museum. Families are welcome, with children of all ages. Nobody is too young to learn about anatomy and correct terms for parts of their bodies!
Small children are welcome in the Vagina Museum on any days, although on Wednesday mornings, we hold special viewing sessions where your little ones can be as noisy as they like! Admission is, as always, free https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/accessmornings
We don't expect a small child to understand everything in our exhibitions, just like another museum wouldn't expect a small child to understand the social context of German Expressionism or advanced sauropod taxonomy. A museum is a part of a journey of learning - and museums are fun for kids!
Our website is currently undergoing some routine maintenance. We'll be back up and running as soon as possible! The Museum itself is open as normal over the weekend: 10am-6pm with free admission.