Vagina Museum hit by backlash for labelling abused Polish women 'people with vaginas' 

A Vagina Museum has been hit by a backlash after refusing to use the word women in a social media post while talking about the issue of abused Polish women. 

The London-based organisaton instead used the phrase ‘people with vaginas’.

People expressed disbelief that a museum dedicated to vaginas chose not to use the word ‘woman’, with one calling it ‘ludicrous’. 

The comment came as artist and photographer Aleksandra Karpowicz was handed access to their Twitter account in a ‘takeover’ to highlight the current situation in Poland.  

Demonstrations have spread across the country after changes were made to Poland’s abortion laws.  

London's Vagina Museum were criticised for refusing to use the term 'women' in a social media post. The organisaton instead used the phrase 'people with vaginas' in a post on Twitter

London’s Vagina Museum were criticised for refusing to use the term ‘women’ in a social media post. The organisaton instead used the phrase ‘people with vaginas’ in a post on Twitter

The Vagina Museum in Camden, north London, is dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynaecological anatomy

The Vagina Museum in Camden, north London, is dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynaecological anatomy

Who is Aleksandra Karpowicz? 

Aleksandra Karpowicz is a London-based artist who aims to, ‘reassert the beauty in the human form.’

She studied photography at the University of the Arts London before going on to earn a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Warsaw. 

Award-winning artist Ms Karpowicz says her artwork is ‘based on critical research and has a liberation message…to create a social revolution through art to bring back our bodies.. 

Pointing social media users to Karpowicz’s account, the Camden museum wrote: ‘This is a takeover by @a_karpowicz to share with you the abuse of rights that is happening to Polish people with vaginas.’

They followed the post with the hashtag: ‘StrajkKobiet’, which in Polish means ‘women’s strike’.

This is the name of the grassroots women’s rights organisation currently leading demonstrations in Poland. 

Mass protests have taken place after the predominantly Catholic country tightened its abortion laws, making it illegal to end a pregnancy due to foetal defects.

After the ruling goes into effect, abortion will only be permissible in Poland in the case of rape, incest or a threat to the mother’s health and life.

These make up only around two per cent of legal terminations conducted in recent years. 

The museum’s preference for the phrase ‘people with vaginas’ over ‘women’ has prompted outrage on social media. 

Many called for them to use the original term, while others praised the post for its ‘inclusionary language’.

One person wrote on Twitter: ‘The world has gone mad.’ 

An exhibition from inside the museum, which hopes to educate visitor on the gynaecological anatomy (file photo)

Some users on social media criticised the 'snowflakes' behind the museum's Twitter post

Some users on social media criticised the ‘snowflakes’ behind the museum’s Twitter post

Another person on Twitter exclaimed 'the world has gone mad' in reaction to the choice of words

Another person on Twitter exclaimed ‘the world has gone mad’ in reaction to the choice of words

The term split opinion with several people arguing over its use on social media

The term split opinion with several people arguing over its use on social media

This individual called it 'ludicrous' that a museum dedicated to vaginas refused to use the word 'women'

This individual called it ‘ludicrous’ that a museum dedicated to vaginas refused to use the word ‘women’

Some praised the museum for their 'inclusive language' in light of the protests in Poland

Some praised the museum for their ‘inclusive language’ in light of the protests in Poland

The world’s first VAGINA museum where guests can buy anatomical crocheted souvenirs and postcards 

The world’s very first vagina museum aimed at tackling the taboos surrounding the gynaecological anatomy opened its doors to visitors in London last year.

The Vagina Museum, located in Camden Market, provides guests with an indoor space decorated with images and displays of the female reproductive system in a bid to promote ‘a world where no one is ashamed of their bodies.’

Inside the exhibition, entitled ‘Muff Busters: Vagina Myths and How To Fight Them’, members of the public were greeted by red glittery tampons, menstrual cups and vagina-themed bunting.

The Vagina Museum, situated in Camden Market, London, was the creation of science YouTuber Florence Schechter (pictured)

The Vagina Museum, situated in Camden Market, London, was the creation of science YouTuber Florence Schechter (pictured)

The museum, which also features plays and comedy nights around the theme of vaginas, was the creation of science YouTuber Florence Schechter, who decided to create a building dedicated solely to vaginas after discovering Iceland’s Phallological Museum.

In 2017, Florence set about making her vision a reality by hosting pop-up programmes and events across the country – including at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

She also launched a crowdfunder web page which received widespread support from the general public by amassing almost £50,000. 

Inside the unique and free-to-enter exhibition, visitors are able to purchase necklaces that come with a vagina pendant, clitoris crochet, feminist books and vulva postcards and bookmarks.

Also available to the public are leaflets informing them about vaginal health and information boards. 

Prior to its opening, the museum had sparked concern among local resident groups after it was granted an alcohol license. 

One post read: ‘It’s difficult to think of anything more ludicrous than a vagina museum that refuses to use the word woman. It’s just utterly pathetic.’ 

Another person commented: ‘They are snowflaking so hard at this point.’ 

J K Rowling came under fire earlier this year after she took issue with an online article referring to 'people who menstruate' instead of the word 'women'

J K Rowling came under fire earlier this year after she took issue with an online article referring to ‘people who menstruate’ instead of the word ‘women’

The museum defended its statement in a second tweet, posting: ‘We are recieving comments questioning this language. Not all people who have vaginas are women.’

While another posted: ‘Thank you for using inclusive language. I’m a cis woman and I really appreciate having my trans and non binary siblings being recognised as being damaged by this horrific law too. We all need to stand together.’

The distinction has been much discussed in recent months after JK Rowling prompted a row after she took issue with an online article referring to  ‘people who menstruate’. 

She tweeted to her 14.5m followers on Saturday: ‘I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’

The backlash prompted complaints that the term ‘women’ is not inclusive of the complexity of gender identity and excludes trans women.  

London’s Vagina Museum is the latest in a series of places that have chosen to adopt an alternative phrase to replace the word ‘women’.

Students at Goldsmiths University in London have dropped the gender noun ‘woman’, say it is non-inclusive as feminists suggest the inclusion of ‘men’ in the word implies reliance upon males.   

Instead, members of the female sex are being referred to as ‘womxn’ by students at Goldsmiths, University of London and Kings College London.

And in September, Tedx London, a volunteer-led organisation that holds regular events with TED-style talks, faced fierce criticism after replacing the word woman with ‘womxn’.

The organisation used the term on social media posts announcing its programme of autumn events, and later said the word had been used because its ‘more inclusive and progressive’.

JK Rowling’s run-ins with the Twitter mob who accused of transphobia and declared her ‘dead’

In recent months J.K. Rowling has become embroiled in a number of Trans rows in recent months and repeatedly accused of transphobia in the wake of comments made on social media. 

Over the summer, the bestselling author made a controversial comment about menstruation, two years after she liked a tweet which referred to transgender people as ‘men in dresses’.

Taking to Twitter in June, the Harry Potter author, 54, sparked fury among fellow social media users as she reacted to an online article titled ‘Opinion: Creating a more equal post COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.’

‘”People who menstruate.” I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’, the award-winning writer told her 14.5million followers.

Disappointed fans and other users of the micro-blogging site branded the screenwriter’s remarks ‘anti-trans’ and ‘transphobic’, as transgenders, non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals can also menstruate.

The producer stood by her tweet as she later insisted: ‘If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction.

‘If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.’

The media personality seemingly denied claims of transphobia as she insisted she ‘respects every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them.’

In September, Rowling became embroiled in yet another trans row after it was revealed that the villain in her latest book was a male serial killer who dresses as a woman to slay his victims.

Troubled Blood – written under Rowling’s pseudonym Robert Galbraith – sees detective Cormoran Strike work out what happened to missing GP Margot Bamborough.

He fears she fell victim to Dennis Creed, who has been dubbed a ‘transvestite serial killer’ for murdering his victims while wearing female clothing.

An early review of the 900-page book by The Daily Telegraph – in which the critic states the book’s ‘moral seems to be: never trust a man in a dress’ – sparked immediate backlash online.

Furious readers rushed to Twitter to share their thoughts, making #RIPJKRowling trend in the UK.

source: dailymail.co.uk