This semester I have class on Thursday nights and thus am deprived of \Must-See TV."" I don't really care because I am not a big fan of any of the shows except for ""Scrubs."" The characters on ""Friends"" and ""Will & Grace"" are just so whiny. I can barely stand to hear myself complaining, let alone others.
Last Thursday, due to the cancellation of my class, I got to watch ""Scrubs"" for the first time this season. I am sure that most of you remember the episode I am talking about, but for those of you who have better things to do than watch TV (what do people do when they aren't watching TV?) here is a quick recap: Dr. Cox's ex-wife Jordan gave birth. There were also some silly references to JD's karma and Elliot dated little Ricky Schroeder. Hilarity ensue. But, the important thing for us to remember is that Jordan gave birth.
Friday in the TA office, we found ourselves talking about television, as we often do. Since ""American Idol"" had already been thoroughly discussed the day before, we were left with Jordan's birthing experience for our lunchtime chatter. Conversations turn scatological in our office more times than is normal, and this was no exception.
When Jordan was in delivery, she defecated. If you think about it, it makes sense why women in labor would empty their bowels. Most of the muscles in their body are contracting. It isn't a pretty picture and it certainly isn't one they present to you in those silly ""birth stories"" on television for women. However, it is something that doctors and nurses are used to seeing. My sister is a labor and delivery nurse and things like that just don't faze her anymore.
Another thing we talk about constantly in our office is the vulva. Yes, nary a day goes by that the word labia does not tumble from our lips. We say clitoris more times in a day than the people down at A Woman's Touch. But while we are talking the talk, other people are walking the walk. I am talking hands-on interactions, not the lip service we have to offer in the TA office.
Take my sister, for example. How many exposed vulvas do you think go through the city hospital in Austin, Texas, every day? And how many people look at said vulvas? Doctors, nurses, medical students, orderlies and random friends, family, midwives and birthing coaches. Plenty of other people get an eyeful of ""down there"" everyday. Gynecologists and bikini waxers jump immediately to mind.
So, what is with everyone's squeamishness with women's bodies? Men expose their penises to the world every time they urinate in a public bathroom. I know that courtesy demands a ""no looking"" policy, but it is my guess that the shy penis would turn bright red recounting every time it gave someone a free show. Someone even etched a crude drawing of a penis in the snow on the street I live on. The penis is everywhere. I practically trip over them on my walk to school.
We are constantly bombarded with the penis. In fact, we are pretty much desensitized to it. Vulvas remain strange, scary mysterious things to be feared. Doesn't help that women have menstruation and lactation added into the mix. Women's whole bodies end up being seen as just a whole bunch of ick (just a note: I do not think that women's bodies are icky). This is very unfortunate, if you ask me. We shouldn't be so wigged out by vulvas and breasts. Here is some homework for you: go out and look at a vulva today. They are very normal things. Half of the world has them.
