AIBU to not want to call my daughter’s genitals her vagina?

[BabyEl]

I know, I know, I know….we live in a enlightened age. I know it’s all the rage but vagina just doesn’t sit well with me.

my daughter has started to ask ‘what’s this’ pointing at her ‘bits’ and we need an answer soon!

i know all the arguments, I know “that’s what it’s called!” And “you call an arm an arm” etc but 1) that’s not what it’s called (technically that’s just the inner passage) and 2) when do people really use the word vagina?

do you say “my vagina is a bit sore today” or “oh yeah hubby, my vagina feels so good”

also vulva? No one says that anywhere.

do let’s put those arguments to bed.

secondly, “if you don’t use the real names and god forbid a crime occurs, the case could collapse due to incorrect name use”

I’ve seen this one a lot but I’m sceptical. Is our CPS so dull and dim witted that they will reject a child testimony because she failed to use medical grade terminology? I mean, maybe…? Is there any evidence of this happening?

anyway, I’d don’t like it. I don’t like front bottom, fanny or fufu either. I’m looking for something but not those and not the V word…

am I being unreasonable?

We never got taught it as vulva at school either. And I did A Level biology. Glad to see things have moved on since then.

I remember a very brief lesson with my teacher muttering all awkward and quiet I didn't really pay a lot of attention

I wouldn't say nunny and it isn't commonly used round here but I wouldn't judge someone for saying it same as some people don't say willy they say pipi or wee wee or some other variations.

We used to say willy and girly bits when my kids were young but they also knew the proper words (penis and vulva). I think anybody would know what was meant by girly bits surely?
I have friends who used 'vagina' with their daughters and it always grates for me as inaccurate.

But then I get the juvenile urge to snigger when saying front bottom teeth at the dentist.

@Wavescrashingonthebeach 9 out of curiosity what were you taught it was called at school? It's very odd that we all know it's called a penis but so many people on this thread have never used the anatomical term for female genitals.

What a non issue, what's wrong with using the correct name?

Say private parts instead. There's no ambiguity then. I say vagina/private parts for my children. In the real world no one is calling it a vulva.

We use vulva - they were also taught that language in school. (She's 7)

Are you a millennial? That’s because your school sex education was crap. Girls should know it’s vulva for outside, vagina for inside. It’s an important distinction for health, sex and the reclaiming of important language. It’s not exactly hard to get it right.

Not true. That's what nursery and school staff will call it.

You don’t like the word because you’re not used to hearing it/using it.

After a few years of using the correct term vulva it loses its power and feels as normal as penis.

Why is the word penis comfortable to use but vulva isn’t? Because women’s genitalia are taboo.

Are you gonna help destigmatise women’s bodies or perpetuate the taboo?

Sorry but this reminds me of when my ds who was really young at the time maybe 3ish, asking where my willy was. When I told him girls have a vagina, he proceed to jump up and down shouting "vagina, vagina, vagina!" He was like a little vagina cheerleader!

And you don’t think it’s problematic that you’re mislabelling and teaching your child to mislabel part of her own body because you hang out with people who don’t know what their own genitals are called?

Jesus Christ.

Why don't we call it a Venn

We call them private's as they are not to be seen or shown to anyone or alternatively they're your genitals!?

No ambiguity??

‘My privates hurt’

’I saw his privates’

Pretty important in these examples to know which the child is referring to:
anus/vulva/vagina/penis/testes/bumcheeks

‘privates’ is so ambiguous

also vulva? No one says that anywhere.

Yes, they do...

It clearly refers to one of those body parts which are all private parts. That is clear enough.

I've never had the need to discuss with my now adult dds. Never heard a man use proper male terminology either. Colloquial terms are just fine in the household but I never needed them, never came up