44% of parents who took part in the independent YouGov survey said that they use euphemisms such as ‘tuppence’, ‘fairy’ and ‘flower’ instead of anatomical language when speaking to their daughters about their bodies. What’s more disappointing is that only 1% of parents said they use the word ‘vulva’, and a fifth of parents don’t speak to their daughters about that part of their bodies at all!
The longer we leave vulvas out of the conversation with our children, the more we are perpetuating the idea that it is wrong to talk about them. Vulva is NOT a dirty word, it is a part of the body, just like a nose, arm, penis or ear.
Children are not born with any shame or embarrassment about their bodies; these are things that we learn from society. If we want to stop these taboos before they start, then we need to have open conversations with clear and accurate information and without shame or embarrassment with the next generation.
This is why we have created Educating Eve Part 1 – our tips for communicating with your daughters about their bodies in a way that can empower, inform and arm them with gynae health knowledge as they go through life.
Our survey also found that there is a significant difference in how comfortable older and younger age groups are when it comes to talking about their gynae health.
43% of 18-24 year old women are comfortable talking about gynaecological cancer compared with 63% of women aged 55 and over. 56% of 18-24 year old women are comfortable talking about cervical screening compared with 76% of women aged 55 and over.
Eve Appeal CEO, Athena Lamnisos says, “The results of this research show just how wide the knowledge gap is around gynae health. We must address both the lack of knowledge and any stigma by opening conversations across the generations about women’s health now to give women the best chance of living healthy lives. This is what will make a difference to prevention and early diagnosis.”
We hope our research demonstrates that we need to embrace correct anatomical terms from a young age and share accurate, relevant health information. Our Educating Eve tips have been approved by experts and will help equip people with the tools needed to have open, honest and taboo free conversations with their children and the older women in their life.
We all need to use the right words about our bodies from the start. This is why this Gynae Cancer Awareness Month we’re asking everyone to pledge to have at least one ‘Educating Eve’ chat with their own networks – family, friends, and colleagues.
Read and share our Educating Eve tips this Gynae Cancer Awareness Month: