Why doesn't my girlfriend love her genitals?

Dear Proud Penis,

This is much more common than you may think. Research shows that girls don’t dig their vaginas as much as men love their penises. Twenty-two percent of women don’t like the smell of their vagina, while only 3% of guys think their penis smells.

Studies have also found that a lot of girls don’t like the texture and amount of their pubic hair. A guy’s genital image issues are centred around the size of their limp penis, cause no one can tell how big it really gets.

As a man, I can’t blame you girls for thinking your genitals look ‘weird.’ Society perpetuates this myth, does it not Proud Penis?

When we compare slang words for penis and vulva it is easy to see that a guy’s piece (dong, dick, stick, sword) is powerful. Slang for a woman’s tender regions aren’t so positive. Beaver, box, beef curtains, bearded clam, and the c word don’t sound too appealing. As a male, I think it is important to note that it is mainly men who use these slang terms and the ones who keep these myths afloat.

There are some other reasons that us men find it easier to connect with our penises. Most men connect daily with theirs and we know that women (including your honey) do that a quarter less then men.

And Proud Penis, you’ve probably figured out that your penis is external whereas most of your girlfriend’s nether region is internal.

A boy gets to know his pee pee at a very early age. For all of you students out there who have seen a baby boy get his diaper changed you’ve probably noticed that the first thing little Johnny grabs is his junior. Why you ask? Because it is full of nerve endings and it feels good.

Boys also learn to touch their penis when they get potty trained. They become very familiar with their penis by puberty. Weekly, they’ll check themselves out in the mirror and see what’s happening down there. Proud Penis, I’d bet a lot of money that your girlfriend has never taken a good look at her genitals.

Your girlfriend and her gal friends have been led to believe (by men) that their vagina is stinky. And, plenty of them buy into the douching routine. In fact, a study sponsored by Summer’s Eve (hello) found that women have better genital image if they had control over their body’s freshness.

So Proud Penis, I’m totally stoked that you love to stroke. However, it is going to take some time for your lady friend to open up. Though these societal messages towards women’s sexuality are losing momentum, many girls still subscribe to these social scripts.

It may take some time for your gal and her friends to stop worrying about being stinky or having an afro jutting out of their shorts. From the look of the locker room, men certainly don’t seem to care. Maybe women shouldn’t be so concerned either.

Best regards,

Dr. Brian Parker