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This chap tried to mansplain the difference between vulva and vagina and the takedowns were brutal The Poke

by Yaipoo 11. February 2019, 5:44 611 Views

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In a feature which we can probably file under ‘peak Guardian’, the paper ran a picture spread at the weekend headlined ‘Me and My Vulva’.

Me and my vulva: 100 women reveal all https://t.co/sLwnce6Myj

— The Guardian (@guardian) February 10, 2019

It prompted all sorts of responses as you can imagine – it’s been shared 35,000 times at the last count – but this one in particular caught people’s eye.

A chap called Paul Bullen said the paper had got it all wrong.

The correct word is vagina.

— Paul Bullen (@paulbullen) 10 February 2019

And he didn’t stop there. He really, really didn’t.

Hi Paul 👋🏼

No it’s not. But thanks for the mansplaining on something you obvs know nothing about.

— Mich (@decolover61) 10 February 2019

That’s an incorrect use of the word mansplaining. :-). Not that I want to legitimize the term, but by its own definition it requires more than just having just a man who is explaining something. Even if some in the audience are women.

— Paul Bullen (@paulbullen) 10 February 2019

Men mansplaining what mansplaining is, and is not, is honestly one of my favourite things on the internet

— Dr Caoimhe Ní Dhónaill (@Coifsh) 10 February 2019

Imagine arguing to a woman what her own body parts are called 🙄 ffs

— kate (@kathryn_stan) 10 February 2019

I am supporting widespread female usage, as in the Vagina Monologues. I am defending how actual people speak.

— Paul Bullen (@paulbullen) 11 February 2019

And. With a twist of gendered topic, a woman’s own vagina to a woman gynae. Perfetto

— dogsinscarvesTrishHa (@dogsinscarves) 11 February 2019

Even though it’s only February, I think it would be pretty safe to declare Paul the Mansplainer of the Year 2019. This is hard to top.

— Veronica K. B. Olsen (@VeronicaInPink) 11 February 2019

Relatedly, if a pregnant woman speaks about the baby in her belly, I would not tell her she should be referring to it as a fetus. Fetus is a technical term appropriate in scientific contexts. Even a doctor does not ask “Would you like to see your fetus?”

— Paul Bullen (@paulbullen) 11 February 2019

<whispers>It’s not her belly

— Ten Second Cynic (@TenSecondCynic) 11 February 2019

No, those are vulva. The vagina is the internal passage leading from the uterus. If you don’t know this at your age, any female sex partners you’ve had have my utmost sympathy.

— Deedeemarz (@deedeemarz) 11 February 2019

And here, caught by our camera trap, after 5 or 6 long seconds of waiting, we can see a beautiful example of the confidence of a mediocre white man in the wild.

— Immigrant & child of an immigrant (@ninjacodemonkey) 11 February 2019

Actually, Paul, it isn’t. It’s vulva. Trust people who’ve got them.

— Red Ryder (@CLR74) 10 February 2019

Vulva was used because it is vulvas that have been photographed and it is vulvas that are being discussed in the article/photography piece. It’s that simple. Vagina is not the correct word. Vulva, Paul, vulva. #issavulvabruh

— Transatlantic Notes (@saltwatersong) 11 February 2019

Paul, love, my 12 year old knows it’s a vulva.

Calm yourself, and maybe read a biology book.

— Karen (@ManicMippisMum) 10 February 2019

There’s another word for it, and I fear it applies to you, Paul.

— Louis Barfe (@AlanKelloggs) 10 February 2019

And when we say he went on a bit, he really did.

And many, many exchanges later, he was still going.

It is neither polite nor respectful to correct erroneously how someone refers to their own genitalia.

— LCMKT (@wyrdsystyr) 10 February 2019

I am making a factual claim about how most people do in fact refer to their genitalia. And I am defending their use. I am taking issue with those who are telling them they should not do that. And I am responding politely to those who fail to understand what I am saying.

— Paul Bullen (@paulbullen) 11 February 2019

You, a man, think you’re an expert on how women refer to their own genitalia. I understand what you’re saying. Women are taking issue with it. And you fail to understand that. Get it?

— General Order (@13megaphones) 11 February 2019

Last word to these people, surely.

Well. Actually. https://t.co/Fn2mW7hze1

— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) 10 February 2019

And someone spotted this which made people smile.

‘Certicate In Editing’ hmmmmm surely you meant ‘Certificate In Editing’ ……….. pic.twitter.com/zVLOdUSiEv

— polly molotov 1800 828 010 #WeWillProvide (@NursepollyRgn) 10 February 2019

To conclude …