Response to the 'Muff March' from Sinead

The Muffia featured in the Guardian as having been part of the organisation of the Muff March which took place on the 10th of December. The march was a protest against labiaplasty cosmetic surgery. We were not involved in the organisation of the march, the organisers encouraged the use of the 'Muff wig' and took inspiration from The Muffia, which is great.

We fully support the march, but it has raised many questions.

I always like to start from a place of personal experience. I have never felt insecure about or been made to feel insecure about my vagina and I have never changed my vagina for anyone else.

When we want to react politically how can we formulate a response which can create change? What does protesting achieve? Who are we protesting against?

Who are the women who are having cosmetic surgery of this type? Should they have a voice? Feminism has often spoken on behalf of women without talking to and listening to women about their lived experience.

Do some women/young girls seeking this surgery possibly suffer with body dismorphia? If so, in some cases, is having this type of surgery part of a very deep psychological/emotional problem? Does it need to be dealt with with great sensitivity like other cultural body issues such as eating disorders? Eating disorders can be seen as a rational response to the culture we live in, can we view cosmetic surgery in this way too?

This march will probably not effect a cosmetic surgeon or stop them from practicing. If it makes a woman who is considering surgery question her motives that is great. But how can we create a dialogue? What does protesting achieve for the women who are having this surgery? How can we make our reaction to this practice inclusive of different views?

I think it's a massive leap to connect labiaplasty surgery to pornography (although it can of course be part of it). Pornography has never made me think I need to change my vagina and I have not had a partner who has watched pornography and used it as a tool for comparison. That is not to ignore or undermine any unconscious thought processes or actions that may play out as a result of consuming pornography (both the explicit type and images in the media).

There's something deeper going on.

When we talk about 'choice' within our culture, it is only that, choice within the constructs and constraints of our culture. Can we think outside of that?

Self hatred and insecurity are not a gender specific problem. They are a cultural problem.

Do we feel 'not good enough' and therefore that we have to continually make ourselves 'better' and more 'attractive'? Why?

'Power is not an institution, and not a structure; neither is it a certain strength we are endowed with; it is the name that one attributes to a complex strategical situation in a particular society'   - Michel Foucault 

Katie attended the Muff March and made a speech

After attending the Challenge porn conference on Saturday 3rd of December at the Metropolitan University, I began to think about the theories discussed on how influential the pornification aesthetic is on mainstream culture. As The Muffia was invited to join the Muff March I wanted to understand this issue further. (We weren't asked in advance if UK Feminista could use our image). On the surface I was happy to be involved and attend. This event has sparked a brilliant debate and conversation within the Muffia household. Where do we stand on this issue and how do we want to respond to the event?

I did my research, thought about my personal experience and thought about what the outcome of this march might be. My work is about generating a dialogue and engaging with people about current and topical issues. I am a feminist, meaning I believe in equality for women and men. But this word is problematic, it still has negative connotations and some would say in turn through its definition is excluding different gender, sex and sexuality groups.

As I have a long list of identities that don't fully match my actual identity I think you can pick any definition apart. I would hope to be a refreshing representation of being a Feminist not Feminism,that's a whole other debate about a movement. If you are identify yourself as liberal does that mean you agree with everything in the liberal democrats party? 

I concluded after much debate that I wanted to be apart of the march and do a speech to express my opinion on Labiaplasty (not vaginal) surgery which is simply the removing of skin, similar to male circumcision. There is no evidence that having the extra skin hinders or causes problems during sex or childbirth. Its an aesthetically preference to have it removed but where did the idea come from to have it removed, what images of women's volva's are people who opt for this surgery exposed to? What industry is so influencial and insidious in mainstream culture today? 

I understand that it is not the only factor, of course there is more to this problem. I remember going to see a Susan Orbach lecture a few years ago and she talked about women diagnosing themselves with eating disorders and other issues. Susan theorised that the problem was often that women were reacting to a society with disordered eating rather than the common assumption when self diagnosing and labeling yourself with an 'eating disorder'. It was like a light was switched on. So often I am inclined to blame myself and internalise my problems but then I realised (again) I am not immune to my cultural context, even if I am against it. This is not to dismiss genuine eating disorders and food addictions. With this in mind, I think that resorting to Labiaplasty because one is trying to achive a certain aestheic is very hard not to react and engage with it. Especially with the knowledge that my mother and my mother's mother and I would never of even conceived such an idea. To me it is just another avenue to capitalise on self hatred. I fear it will soon be considered a beauty treatment after all feeling beautiful comes from looking beautiful right? (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

So where did I get the idea to remove hair from my body in a particular style? I am not suggesting it is wrong to remove hair but I know that I didn't just invent how and where to remove my hair all by myself. 

What worries me about Labiaplasty is by nature contributing to the homogenising of the human form and it deeply effects me that anyone feels the need to slice off a small part of their genitals to feel accepted. 

I agree with Sinead's response too.  

This documentary shows women who have been affected The Perfect Vagina

Muff knickers worn at the Muff March, 10th December 2011