the V word...

Now. I have to speak in hushed tones about this subject, quickly get to my point before i offend too many people.. i just wanted to ask what is about the word Vagina that freaks out so many people, and i have come to find out that women tend to be even more shy about it than guys..
why? its not a swear word; its the anatomical word for it you know. well actually that would be vulva.. but that is neither here nor there..

we have so many secret words for it; for our "thingies"..
i think in some ways hiding from it; giving it an alias could be seen as a way of detaching ourselves from our sex; its a way for us not to think about it in real terms; we can flower it, spice it or deaden it all by the name that we choose for it..

And then there is the translation aspect of it all.. why is it that a simple word (well maybe not so simple) once translated can have more shock value to it?! Lol! Trying to talk about your kuma, or uke will get you Shushed in a heartbeat! During the production of the Vagina Monologues in Tanzania, the cast came up with a list of the Swahili words we call it; love love love this list.

Kuma
Mofa
Uke
Sehema za Siri
Nyanya
Mashine
Kipapa
Sambusa
Dudu
Kwa Bibi
Kinembe
Kinena
Kisimi
Mana (kihaya for grown women)
Mpari (kihaya-for both men and women)
Kamana (kihaya-for girls)
Mnyo (in mbenna and mhehe)

I think i need to find a way to incorporate one word from this list daily. And see what happens..
:)

What words have you got for your "V"?
Check this out: http://www.vaginafestival.com/about.html

Uke

One word sooooo many meanings!

Uke: noun, womanhood
Uke: noun, femininity
Uke: noun, vagina
Uke: noun, female sex organs
Uke: noun, condition of being a wife

Womanhood

so. what is this wonderful world; land called womanhood? how do i get there? who can give me directions? Kwasababu, i think it keeps being moved!

i found the following definition online; 1) The state or time of being a woman. and 2) The composite of qualities thought to be appropriate to or representative of women.

so what are these qualities then? a "good" African woman has to constantly balance everything in order that her man not look bad; you can never outshine your beloved; in the office or in the bedroom!

my qualities? my balancing act entails me working hard to show utmost respect for my partner without hurting myself in the process... (could i be onto the right path towards my African womanhood?)

aaand i have other qualities too: i talk too much, laugh too loud, argue far too much, drink for no reason, smoke because i can and love kinky sex! I would rather eat out than cook; shop than DIY. My motto - if you can pay for someone to do, then why not? You are assisting the economy right? Job creation and all that.

I bought my car, pay my own rent, and travel with my own money. Du! Nitafa kuwa mke wa mtu kweli? Surely all my achievements must amount to something, au sio?

My mom once told me that you are not a woman until you marry and have children.

Hmmmm...

This should be my ultimate goal in life.. lakini it's not the cut and dry is it? what if (touch wood) i cant bear children? what if i die before meeting mr (or ms, but we will get into that later) right? will i go down in history as still being a little girl? what if i adopt - is that like faking it?? what if i marry a woman - shock horror?!?

to me womanhood is a place for mature women, passionate women, wise women, not taking shit women, women who talk too much, laugh too loud, argue far too much, drink for no reason, smoke because they can and have very kinky sex. Now I need to get the directions to that neighborhood, kwa kweli.