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

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 But, for some, it’s just one of countless examples that are outdated and loaded with stigma.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.

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 “schaamhaar” (pubic or shame hair) or “schaambeen” (pubic or shame bone) to even “schaamluis” for pubic lice.

However, critics say changing a word will not necessarily change people’s lives.

The campaign mirrors attempts in Germany, where in 2018 journalists Gunda Windmüller and Mithu Sanyal started a petition to change Schamlippen 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.

When writing her article, she realised she couldn’t even mention anatomy without including the word shame.

“Vulvalippen” has not yet been adopted by a German dictionary, but Windmüller has spotted it in conversations, school textbooks and women’s magazines.

Her hope is the Dutch move will ignite support closer to home.

Similarly, in Sweden a new word for “hymen” was added in the academic dictionary after a 2009 campaign.

The association for sexuality education (RFSU) felt traditional term “mödomshinna”, which translates as maidenhood skin or virginity membrane, was anatomically inaccurate and did nothing to dispel myths around hymens and virginity.

The new term “slidkrans” translates as vaginal corona – reflecting the fact the hymen is often folds of tissue in a ring, rather than a seal that breaks once.

“With a new word we can challenge the myths that seek to control women’s sexuality and freedom,” Sonja Ghaderi of the RFSU says.

Ghaderi says slidkrans is used particularly by healthcare professionals and in youth clinics but adds misinformation still exists emphasising the “need to change social constructs”.

In the UK, feminist podcast host Nicola Denson-Elliott started a petition to replace the word “hysterectomy” (surgical removal of the womb) with “uterectomy”.

She argues, as others have, that hysterectomy has linguistic links with hysteria – once seen as a disease of emotional excess in women – and wants a more “anatomically correct term” not one “associated with emotion.”

The petition describes it as “medical misogyny”, adding: “Women deserve terminology that respects them.”

Linguistics researcher Dr Beth Malory says any changes need to be researched first.

“Will people understand uterectomy? Is simply saying removal of the womb better?”

New words cannot be ambiguous, she says, it’s important to look at the whole system so there is no confusion.

Malory also studies language around pregnancy and loss.

One phrase highlighted in her research is “incompetent cervix” used to describe the shortening of the cervix that can increase risks of pregnancy loss and early birth. Women told her it made them feel blamed for the medical issue.

“Why do we need judgmental words like failure or incompetence?” says obstetrician Dr Brooke Vandermolen.

Even though they appear in medical textbooks, she tells me she’s moved away from certain terms, including “failure to progress” – which describes labour not moving forward as expected.

“Language is incredibly important and the words we choose can show recognition and make people feel validated and seen.”

In 2022, the Royal College of Midwives produced guidance offering alternative phrases.

But Vandermolen says some traditional terms are still being used and still cause distress.

“I hope this change in the Netherlands sparks more conversations here about how we speak about women’s bodies. What we say can have a lasting impact.”