Yesterday’s post “What? We Can’t Say Vagina?” got more traffic than anything we’ve ever posted on Owning Pink. And the conversation is still raging in the comments section of that post, so feel free to let your empowered, honest, authentic voice be heard. It shouldn’t surprise me that women are so hungry to talk about what society still considers taboo. That’s what inspired me to write my book What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend (St. Martin’s Press, Sept 2010). When I asked for your secret questions, I opened the floodgates. Turns out you all WANT to talk!

Tell me it isn’t true. Rumor on the street has it that TV networks have banned a tampon company for making an ad that uses the word “vagina.” Um, how exactly are we supposed to talk about tampons without using the word vagina? And what’s wrong with that? Vagina vagina vagina! (Okay, did I just sound like a defiant little kid? Good.)
Apparently, after this infamous tampon ad was banned from three networks, they reshot the ad and replaced “vagina” with “down there.” Even with this change, two networks still wouldn’t run the ad. Which means they made a tampon ad without ever once referencing the female genitalia. I mean…duh, people. That’s like making a beer ad without ever referencing the mouth, lips, or tongue. Vaginas are where tampons GO.
Hiya Pinkies,
I just wanted to let you know that I'm heading to Big Sur this weekend for an internet-free, kid-free holiday weekend. Pink Goddesses Joy and Megan will be running the Pink show for me while I'm gone, and I know the rest of you will maintain the sacred space, as you always do.