'Make women feel seen': Why the Dutch have a new word for labia

Shari Klein spoke at a recent march celebrating the new word Can you imagine seeing the words "shame lips" on your medical notes? The term, which can also be translated as "pubic lips", is the Dutch word for a women's body part. But, for some, it's just one of countless examples that are outdated and loaded with stigma. Last month, leading Dutch dictionary Dikke van Dale said it would include a new term for the labia, "vulvalippen" - in its upcoming online addition - alongside the traditional term "schaamlippen". European campaigners have long been calling for a rewrite of terms used to discuss women's bodies, sexuality and health. What unites them is the desire to move away from terms that are often seen as misogynistic or judgmental. "Language shapes how we see ourselves," says Shari Klein, one of the founders of the Schaamteloos campaign, which targets words that use "schaam" or "shame". "It's crucial people have a more neutral, anatomically correct word - not a word that links to shame, whether consciously or sub-consciously," she says. Calls to use vulvalippen aren't new but campaigners say inclusion in the dictionary may be a sign society is "finally ready for change". Esther Van der Valk, part of prominent Dutch feminist group Dolle Mina, says it's also about sex positivity and reducing body shaming. The campaign's next steps are to convince doctors and officials to use vulvalippen in leaflets and consultations. Signs used during a recent march in the Netherlands, the one on the left translates as "afterall there are no shame balls" Ton den Boon, editor of the dictionary, says adding vulvalippen is justified because it is becoming more established in the language and is being used more in the media, biology text books, medical leaflets and is even seen in veterinary medicine. But whether it will be adopted widely is yet to be seen. Other Dutch words, relevant to both men and women, could carry similar connotations - from "schaam haar" (pubic or shame hair) or "schaam been" (pubic or shame bone) to even "schaam lice" for pubic lice. However, critics say changing a word will not necessarily change people's lives. Language around birth should be less judgemental The campaign mirrors attempts in Germany, where in 2018 journalists Gunda Windmüller and Mithu Sanyal started a petition to change "Shamlippen" to "Vulvalippen". Windmüller says she was compelled to after a gynaecologist told her of the shame some women carry when discussing their bodies and having medical examinations.