You're a gay man. You drew a vagina. It goes here.
August 6, 2014 5:37 AM Subscribe
Gay Men Draw Vaginas! But why? "It's neat to tease out all this convoluted psycho-sexual-cultural stuff through drawing," plus "Sometimes they turn into heated arguments about gay men's disrespect for women's bodies and gay male social power blah blah blah. Awesome."
(In case you couldn't tell, this is in no way work-safe.)
it's also led to some entertaining (and important!) conversations about the vagina versus the asshole and how one is gross but the other is to be worshipped.Worst dinner party ever.
posted by octobersurprise at 5:47 AM on August 6, 2014 [16 favorites]
it's also led to some entertaining (and important!) conversations about the vagina versus the asshole and how one is gross but the other is to be worshipped.
There's a related joke there about how you can tell God was a civil engineer.
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I sort of get the psycho-social background to this project. But, as far as the images themselves go, I don't think you'd get anything different if you had straight men, or even straight women, draw vaginas.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:49 AM on August 6, 2014 [7 favorites]
There's a related joke there about how you can tell God was a civil engineer.
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I sort of get the psycho-social background to this project. But, as far as the images themselves go, I don't think you'd get anything different if you had straight men, or even straight women, draw vaginas.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:49 AM on August 6, 2014 [7 favorites]
Nobody is stopping straight men or straight women from drawing vaginas. I personally encourage vagina art from all walks of life.
posted by oceanjesse at 5:55 AM on August 6, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by oceanjesse at 5:55 AM on August 6, 2014 [7 favorites]
As a straight man I have always had a weird fascination with drawing dongs. Apparently I am not the only one because many a time I have considered starting a twitter account for the sole purpose of sharing random penis graffIti.
posted by Literaryhero at 6:03 AM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Literaryhero at 6:03 AM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
A few gay guys I know talk about women's genitals constantly. I don't think they usually draw them, but it is a guarantee that any conversation with them will turn to that subject at least once.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:21 AM on August 6, 2014
posted by Dip Flash at 6:21 AM on August 6, 2014
I think this project is rooted in how a lot of gay men will be like "ew pussy, haha", whereas this project is all about gay men saying "vaginas exist and are ok and not disgusting to me as a gay man but rather a thing that I can respectfully talk about and interact with on a theoretical level". It's a homonormative expression of civility and goodwill across genders I guess? I think it's great.
posted by oceanjesse at 6:34 AM on August 6, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by oceanjesse at 6:34 AM on August 6, 2014 [9 favorites]
I'm partial to Mike from San Francisco's. The smiley face one.
posted by symbioid at 6:38 AM on August 6, 2014
posted by symbioid at 6:38 AM on August 6, 2014
Nobody is stopping straight men or straight women from drawing vaginas.
Thorzdad's point wasn't that gay men shouldn't draw a vagina. It's that the results aren't anything special. It's speculation, but you would probably get the same results if you were any gender, any orientation, any whatevs. The vaginals would still look like this. I think that's kinda cool in it's own right.
Also, I suck at drawing, so this is another reason I have for thanking my straight privilege.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:38 AM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thorzdad's point wasn't that gay men shouldn't draw a vagina. It's that the results aren't anything special. It's speculation, but you would probably get the same results if you were any gender, any orientation, any whatevs. The vaginals would still look like this. I think that's kinda cool in it's own right.
Also, I suck at drawing, so this is another reason I have for thanking my straight privilege.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:38 AM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's speculation, but you would probably get the same results if you were any gender, any orientation, any whatevs.
I agree with the basic premise that "people of all walks of life find the vagina complicated and mysterious" but I don't agree that a straight dude would take the same approach. NOW I WILL SPECULATE WILDLY:
These tend to fall into either "it's complicated and I don't mess with it" rubiks cubes and locks and teeth or "it's a beautiful part of the woman's deal" with the dancing legs and flowers or even "ehh it's just a body" with the really bleak sketches of pubic hair and some rugged anatomy.
I think if you got straight males to do this, you'd maybe get SOME of those last two, but you'd also get drawings that focus more on the whole sexxxxy boddy, drawings where it's all tumblr skull pizza skateboard art with drips and neon green, and at least one my little pony. I'm not positive you'd see nearly as many puzzles and locks and teeth because the main people who dwell on that are bad standup comedians.
posted by SharkParty at 6:53 AM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
I agree with the basic premise that "people of all walks of life find the vagina complicated and mysterious" but I don't agree that a straight dude would take the same approach. NOW I WILL SPECULATE WILDLY:
These tend to fall into either "it's complicated and I don't mess with it" rubiks cubes and locks and teeth or "it's a beautiful part of the woman's deal" with the dancing legs and flowers or even "ehh it's just a body" with the really bleak sketches of pubic hair and some rugged anatomy.
I think if you got straight males to do this, you'd maybe get SOME of those last two, but you'd also get drawings that focus more on the whole sexxxxy boddy, drawings where it's all tumblr skull pizza skateboard art with drips and neon green, and at least one my little pony. I'm not positive you'd see nearly as many puzzles and locks and teeth because the main people who dwell on that are bad standup comedians.
posted by SharkParty at 6:53 AM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter: a homonormative expression of civility and goodwill across genders.
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 6:53 AM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 6:53 AM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
Whoever Chris C. is, I want his art in my life.
posted by Mooseli at 6:54 AM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Mooseli at 6:54 AM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
OK, I'll be the one grumpily pointing out that they are drawing vulvas, not vaginas. Or, I guess, the vaginal opening.
posted by gaspode at 7:05 AM on August 6, 2014 [28 favorites]
posted by gaspode at 7:05 AM on August 6, 2014 [28 favorites]
gaspode: "OK, I'll be the one grumpily pointing out that they are drawing vulvas, not vaginas. Or, I guess, the vaginal opening."
15th comment this time.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:35 AM on August 6, 2014 [10 favorites]
15th comment this time.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:35 AM on August 6, 2014 [10 favorites]
A guy I went to grad school with drew I'm Hungry.
The moment I saw the "I'm Hungry" drawing, I started singing: Trogdor was a maaaan, or he was a vagina-man, or maybe he was just a vaginaaaa... but he was still TROGDOOOOOOR!!
I said CONSUMMATE V's!
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:45 AM on August 6, 2014 [5 favorites]
The moment I saw the "I'm Hungry" drawing, I started singing: Trogdor was a maaaan, or he was a vagina-man, or maybe he was just a vaginaaaa... but he was still TROGDOOOOOOR!!
I said CONSUMMATE V's!
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:45 AM on August 6, 2014 [5 favorites]
That Chris C dude is one twisted dude, and as such would be a man I'd drink with.
posted by jonmc at 7:47 AM on August 6, 2014
posted by jonmc at 7:47 AM on August 6, 2014
You could probably ask gay men to draw hands (without tracing their own) and get similarly wacky results. That's because most people can't draw.
posted by tommasz at 8:07 AM on August 6, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 8:07 AM on August 6, 2014 [9 favorites]
Nobody is stopping straight men or straight women from drawing vaginas. I personally encourage vagina art from all walks of life.
Go home, Georgia O'Keeffe. You're drunk.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:16 AM on August 6, 2014 [12 favorites]
Go home, Georgia O'Keeffe. You're drunk.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:16 AM on August 6, 2014 [12 favorites]
To be fair, I think Chris C. is wildly avoiding drawing vaginas.
posted by mudpuppie at 8:20 AM on August 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by mudpuppie at 8:20 AM on August 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
OK, I'll be the one grumpily pointing out that they are drawing vulvas, not vaginas. Or, I guess, the vaginal opening.
Stop trying to make vulva happen. It’s not going to happen.
posted by The Tensor at 10:16 AM on August 6, 2014 [14 favorites]
Stop trying to make vulva happen. It’s not going to happen.
posted by The Tensor at 10:16 AM on August 6, 2014 [14 favorites]
Stop trying to make vulva happen. It’s not going to happen.
Personally, if people don't like "vulva" I'd rather they used a euphemism or a generality ("pubic area" or "genital area" work perfectly well) rather than an incorrect anatomical term. I don't call my mouth my throat. Online it's one thing, but in personal conversations if someone refers to a "vagina" I commit to taking them 100% at their word that they mean the actual vagina and letting the conversation proceed accordingly.
E.g.:
"Do you think so-and-so shaves her vagina?"
"I don't see how she'd get a razor up inside there, and besides, pubic hair only grows on the outside."
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:39 AM on August 6, 2014 [10 favorites]
Personally, if people don't like "vulva" I'd rather they used a euphemism or a generality ("pubic area" or "genital area" work perfectly well) rather than an incorrect anatomical term. I don't call my mouth my throat. Online it's one thing, but in personal conversations if someone refers to a "vagina" I commit to taking them 100% at their word that they mean the actual vagina and letting the conversation proceed accordingly.
E.g.:
"Do you think so-and-so shaves her vagina?"
"I don't see how she'd get a razor up inside there, and besides, pubic hair only grows on the outside."
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:39 AM on August 6, 2014 [10 favorites]
This is why I use "vajeeper". It's just a slangy word for lady business that encompasses all the bits, or unspecified bits, like menbits can be described with "junk".
posted by elizardbits at 12:00 PM on August 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 12:00 PM on August 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
OK, I'll be the one grumpily pointing out that they are drawing vulvas
Technically, they are drawing vulvae.
OK, who threw that?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:02 PM on August 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
Technically, they are drawing vulvae.
OK, who threw that?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:02 PM on August 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
I wouldn't call those technical illustrations at all.
posted by The Gaffer at 12:19 PM on August 6, 2014
posted by The Gaffer at 12:19 PM on August 6, 2014
"Do you think so-and-so shaves her vagina?"
My primary concern is who on earth are you having that conversation with?
posted by ElliotH at 12:20 PM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
My primary concern is who on earth are you having that conversation with?
posted by ElliotH at 12:20 PM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
Also, vulva is sufficiently anglicised as to allow (and prefer) the usual English pluralization. See octopuses vs. octopi* vs. octopodes**.
*Which I will allow on the grounds of descriptivism.
**Which I will allow on the grounds of fun.
posted by The Gaffer at 12:21 PM on August 6, 2014
*Which I will allow on the grounds of descriptivism.
**Which I will allow on the grounds of fun.
posted by The Gaffer at 12:21 PM on August 6, 2014
I'm in solidarity with the vulva =/= vagina people. But isn't vulva an awkward word? Sometimes I like to try it out with different letters. Valva? (Has female-centric games) Volva? (Song of the...Volva Boatmen? Try not to get that song stuck in your head the next time you're fooling around) Velva? Melts easily, but isn't actually cheese?
posted by thylacinthine at 3:58 PM on August 6, 2014
posted by thylacinthine at 3:58 PM on August 6, 2014
But isn't vulva an awkward word?
what? it's a lovely round soft word, not like vagina which is all staccato and pointy.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:36 PM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
what? it's a lovely round soft word, not like vagina which is all staccato and pointy.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:36 PM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Stop trying to make vulva happen. It’s not going to happen.
oh it's happening. in my pants
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:37 PM on August 6, 2014 [7 favorites]
oh it's happening. in my pants
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:37 PM on August 6, 2014 [7 favorites]
I WAS going to suggest pudendum, but then I thought I remembered that we'd Previously agreed that the word was the worst.
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 6:31 PM on August 6, 2014
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 6:31 PM on August 6, 2014
*Which I will allow on the grounds of descriptivism.
**Which I will allow on the grounds of fun.
Lexicographer Kory Stamper, is that you?
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 6:32 PM on August 6, 2014
in personal conversations if someone refers to a "vagina" I commit to taking them 100% at their word that they mean the actual vagina and letting the conversation proceed accordingly
So...why? Do you do that with all technical terms that have a broader or different meaning in ordinary English conversation than they do in specialized, technical contexts? Or do you mean you only have personal conversations with med students who have some need of technical specificity?
posted by yoink at 6:58 PM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
So...why? Do you do that with all technical terms that have a broader or different meaning in ordinary English conversation than they do in specialized, technical contexts? Or do you mean you only have personal conversations with med students who have some need of technical specificity?
posted by yoink at 6:58 PM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Do you do that with all technical terms that have a broader or different meaning in ordinary English conversation than they do in specialized, technical contexts?
That "broader or different meaning" is very recent and not universal, and I don't think it's even that broad. If some people started to call my finger my elbow, I'd refuse to indulge their nonsense in the exact same way.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:02 PM on August 6, 2014
That "broader or different meaning" is very recent and not universal, and I don't think it's even that broad. If some people started to call my finger my elbow, I'd refuse to indulge their nonsense in the exact same way.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:02 PM on August 6, 2014
That "broader or different meaning" is very recent
In none of our lifetimes has "vulva" been used in common parlance at all. "Vulva" is almost entirely restricted to medical and anatomical terminology (and related uses). Vagina carried the day well before you were born, unless you're Rip Van Winkle.
posted by yoink at 9:25 PM on August 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
In none of our lifetimes has "vulva" been used in common parlance at all. "Vulva" is almost entirely restricted to medical and anatomical terminology (and related uses). Vagina carried the day well before you were born, unless you're Rip Van Winkle.
posted by yoink at 9:25 PM on August 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
The insistence on 'vulva' is a recent thing I personally can't relate to, either. I really don't think anyone mistakenly believes that the vagina includes the pubic hair, etc., and I am extremely skeptical that anyone demanding that vulva be the preferred term believes that either. Why derail otherwise interesting threads by insisting on such clinically precise terminology? It just comes across as an annoying prescriptivism just for the sake of being contrarian.
If someone asked (non-specific) you to draw an eye, the odds are that you would not draw solely a spherical eyeball, but the more familiar elliptical eye surrounded by lashes, at least partially covered by an eyelid and possibly with an eyebrow included. That does not mean you do not know what an eyeball is; you are simply putting an object in its proper context.
One could argue that to draw a vagina and not include the entire vulva, indeed the whole woman even, is an exercise in objectivism itself.
posted by misha at 10:50 PM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
If someone asked (non-specific) you to draw an eye, the odds are that you would not draw solely a spherical eyeball, but the more familiar elliptical eye surrounded by lashes, at least partially covered by an eyelid and possibly with an eyebrow included. That does not mean you do not know what an eyeball is; you are simply putting an object in its proper context.
One could argue that to draw a vagina and not include the entire vulva, indeed the whole woman even, is an exercise in objectivism itself.
posted by misha at 10:50 PM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
With anything else I would write it off as the usual mefi helpless reflex pedantry but in these cases I just feel like there is something especially tedious about people telling women that they are referring to parts of their own bodies in an unacceptable fashion. For fuck's sake get out of my pants unless I invite you in.
nb no one has been invited in unless wwe superstar the rock is mefi's own
posted by elizardbits at 11:07 PM on August 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
nb no one has been invited in unless wwe superstar the rock is mefi's own
posted by elizardbits at 11:07 PM on August 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
I've always assumed that all the recent vulva/vagina foofaraw has come about through the concerted efforts of a small minority of people named "Regina".
posted by oneirodynia at 11:30 AM on August 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by oneirodynia at 11:30 AM on August 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Personally, if people don't like "vulva" I'd rather they used a euphemism or a generality ("pubic area" or "genital area" work perfectly well) rather than an incorrect anatomical term.
Can we just say gonads?
Gonads is a HILARIOUS word, it's like, one of the best ones. It makes me smile just typing it. It's right up there with churlish in just being fun to say. It's like the frisbee of words.
Seriously. Can you imagine with a straight face, say, Sir Patrick Stewart saying "Gonads", seductively, waggling his eyebrows with his chin on his fist leaning into the camera? Because that shit is fucking hilarious.
Gonadular is amazing too, but apparently not a real word. It sounds like something from Star Trek "SIR, THAT LAST HIT DROPPED US TO 30% GONADULAR INTEGRITY. I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH LONGER WE'RE GONNA HOLD UP". It's fucking perfect in any way you could reasonably use it. It just makes you smile.
So yea, GONADS 2016! ROCK THE VOTE!
If i had a time machine, and i could go back in time and somehow replace "pussy" with "gonads", the world would be a much better and objectively more entertaining place. Imagine the billboard chart topping hits about working that ass and being all up in those gonads. Gotta make them gonads pop.
If this does not sound amazing to you, then either you have no sense of humor or you're not me. I'm not sure. Also i think if a time machine is invented, and i'm the one who gets to use it... we're all fucking hosed anyways.
posted by emptythought at 5:56 PM on August 7, 2014
Can we just say gonads?
Gonads is a HILARIOUS word, it's like, one of the best ones. It makes me smile just typing it. It's right up there with churlish in just being fun to say. It's like the frisbee of words.
Seriously. Can you imagine with a straight face, say, Sir Patrick Stewart saying "Gonads", seductively, waggling his eyebrows with his chin on his fist leaning into the camera? Because that shit is fucking hilarious.
Gonadular is amazing too, but apparently not a real word. It sounds like something from Star Trek "SIR, THAT LAST HIT DROPPED US TO 30% GONADULAR INTEGRITY. I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH LONGER WE'RE GONNA HOLD UP". It's fucking perfect in any way you could reasonably use it. It just makes you smile.
So yea, GONADS 2016! ROCK THE VOTE!
If i had a time machine, and i could go back in time and somehow replace "pussy" with "gonads", the world would be a much better and objectively more entertaining place. Imagine the billboard chart topping hits about working that ass and being all up in those gonads. Gotta make them gonads pop.
If this does not sound amazing to you, then either you have no sense of humor or you're not me. I'm not sure. Also i think if a time machine is invented, and i'm the one who gets to use it... we're all fucking hosed anyways.
posted by emptythought at 5:56 PM on August 7, 2014
What does it mean to drive a volvo
posted by oceanjesse at 5:43 AM on August 8, 2014
posted by oceanjesse at 5:43 AM on August 8, 2014
Apparently, when I was… five, maybe six? (let's see, the parents were still together, so that was before age seven) my grandmother decided to replace her older-model reliable Swedish car with a new one. My parents told me about this, to my great bewilderment. "…but why does Grandma need a new vulva?"
Rereading upon preview, maybe I should mention that this was 1975-76 in Northern California. Of course I'd been taught the correct terms.
posted by Lexica at 7:35 PM on August 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Rereading upon preview, maybe I should mention that this was 1975-76 in Northern California. Of course I'd been taught the correct terms.
posted by Lexica at 7:35 PM on August 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
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