Lightning Review

The Happy Vagina by Mika Simmons

B

The Happy Vagina

by Mika Simmons

The Happy Vagina is a fun book, primed for gift giving, punctuated with inspiring quotes and featuring bold, fun illustrations. I took one look at it and thought, “I should give this to my daughter.” My daughter took one look at it and said, “It reminds me of those very ‘You Go, Girl!’ pamphlets about periods.” This book, with its teeny tiny nibble sized portions of important health facts, is either too darn peppy, or just the right amount of hot pink feminism depending on your point of view. If the cover makes you smile, you’ll probably like it, and l learned a few things from it.

The Happy Vagina is a short book that uses large type and plenty of white space, so you can read the whole thing in one or two hours. It’s full of useful facts about the female body in terms of reproductive health and fun trivia. Did you know that in addition to the G Spot there is also a A Spot, a U Spot, and a V Spot? I did not! Did you know that technically ‘menopause’ only refers to one day (“…the exact day when a woman has not had a period for twelve months”)? Or that the first movie to use the word ‘vagina’ was The Story of Menstruation, released by Disney in 1946?

This is a very cis-centric book. In the introduction, the author specifies that “This book is about those who identify as women but all humans are welcome here.” It’s the only time any acknowledgement is made of transgender people. The rest of the book uses the terms “women” and “female.” I realize that saying “People with vaginas” can get cumbersome, and I don’t expect the author to use that every single time. Nor do I expect her to tackle the large range of reproductive health issues that are specific to transgender people given the small scope of this book. However, I would have liked to have seen a few more acknowledgements throughout the book of the fact that not all women have vaginas, and not every person with a vagina is a woman.

The omission of transgender people is especially glaring given that the art is quite inclusive in terms of race, age, and size. This book is very pro-sex, pro-masturbation, pro-taking-charge-of -your-own-health, pro-unapologetically-choosing-the-life-that-is-right-for-you, and pro-body positivity. There’s a resource list in the back and a short guide to some socio-political issues one might take action on, including links. The issues specifically discussed are those of period poverty, female genital mutilation, ovarian cancer, and abortion rights.

This is a fun starter book with a feminist outlook. It’s not detailed, but hopefully people who want to learn more will find what they need in the reading list and in links sprinkled throughout the book. I see it as more of a launching pad than a complete guide. Although the sheer positivity was a little too much for my grouchy soul, and I wanted it to be just a tiny bit more intersectional, I still think it would make a good gift for a young person who needs access to information about reproductive health and who is mature enough for specific content regarding sexual activities. In the words of Maya Angelou, who is quoted in the book, “When women take care of their health, they become their own best friend.”

Carrie S

The Happy Vagina shines a light on both the unique and sometimes awkward facts about everything gynaecological, creating an open dialogue for all sexes and generations.

“A fierce and fabulous celebration of women. Mika’s straight-talking, no-nonsense writing means she is the friend we don’t just want, but need. Beautiful and empowering. A must read.” – Laura Whitmore

In a world where the vagina is still, too frequently, considered taboo, this book aims to entertain, educate and enlighten. Mika Simmons, creator and host of ‘The Happy Vagina’ podcast, rightly believes that this taboo is problematic and can lead to a whole host of health issues. Intimate health and pleasure can be hard to talk about, regardless of background or experience, The Happy Vagina is here to smash this stigma for women, and men.

Medicine, politics, religion, and social conditioning have all had a thoroughly improper and exaggerated influence on women’s being – with many of the falsehoods told still negatively impacting us. Mika’s intention is to re-educate us all by shining a light on these ridiculous, historical myths and then debunk them by sharing the most unique, incredible, and empowering facts about the vagina, thereby encouraging a more open dialogue for everyone.

Covering everything from the myth of the wandering womb to mindful masturbation and orgasms to period poverty, the history of contraception, pregnancy and being childfree, Mika’s approachable and positive message urges all of us to know, and appreciate, our own bodies.

Nonfiction
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  1. Vicki says:

    TBH, I had really kind of hoped this was a romance, a contemporary of course, with that title.

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