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How many of us know the proper names of our reproductive parts?

"Reproductive freedom is critical to a whole range of issues. If we can’t take charge of this most personal aspect of our lives, we can’t take care of anything. It should not be seen as a privilege or as a benefit, but a fundamental human right." Faye

Wattleton

The Superpower Project Know Their Names

Changing how we view reproductive health.

Blaise Hunter | Reproductive Health Rights Activist

How many of us know the proper names of our reproductive parts? I hate to admit it, but I knew a vulva was part of my anatomy, but I never actually understood where it was on my body. I’m a little embarrassed that at forty-one, I had to google it. This opened my eyes to something else. I wasn’t the only one. According to research by Bodyform, 73 percent of people don’t fully know what a vulva is. Cookie, hoo-haw, foof, vajajay–we use endless slang terms to reference genitalia, and yet it seems a lot of us are confused about what’s actually going on down there. People just use “vagina” as the blanket word for reproductive organs and most of us are unaware of the terms for our genitals. If freedom is associated with empowerment and we only get power through knowledge, then I must conclude since we don’t know the basic parts of ourselves, we are anything but free.

The Superpower Project is about highlighting various challenges or “kryptonites” facing people and helping us neutralize their effect on us. A deadly kyrptonite facing us these days is we have enslaved the proper terminology of our anatomy and denied our own basic human rights of knowledge. There is a stigma with referencing our genitalia. It’s become taboo, dirty, silly, and shameful. This isn’t about sex; it’s about freedom and empowerment. Education leads to awareness and understanding creates an empowered society. This is the fundamental basis to establish freedom. So why in 2023 are we still chained to shame and ignorance regarding our own reproductive organs and health?

Last year, I was selected to represent Canada at an International Human Rights Summit in Istanbul, Turkey to speak about my award-winning non-profit agency, Footprints: Infertility & Pregnancy Loss Support Initiative and my work championing reproductive health. I am on a mission to break the silence barriers on the trauma parents go through when having to miscarry at home and dispose of their dead baby.

I want to bring awareness and peak curiosity with empathy and compassion to make positive change. I wish for people to understand how their body operates so they can have autonomy and use their voice. When we are wellinformed, we can make wise decisions. With candidness and sincerity, I wish to create pathways for people to enter a shared reality with others, so people join my efforts in promoting human dignity and our sexual health sovereignty.

I specialize in reproductive health advocacy because of experiencing the violations and captivity within our society. After birthing one daughter and enduring three traumatic miscarriages, I still had no understanding of how my body functions or what makes up my anatomy. I intrinsically knew I wasn’t being treated with dignity or respect, but I needed to be informed before I could advocate for myself. Through the death of my three babies, I began leading the charge when it comes to impactful, inclusive, and inspiring action with reproductive health. In current times, there are limited conversations, information, or resources that bring awareness to this vital topic. In 2022, I became a certified human rights leader specializing in advocating for reproductive health initiatives.

There are many branches regarding reproductive health but let’s start from the beginning. I think we all could do with a little biology refresher. Let’s know their names:

• The Vulva is all the external organs you can see outside the body, and the Vagina is the internal.

Everyone has parts and we all deserve education on our rights, respect, and body responsibility. We can be a society that fosters responsibility by respecting our rights to honest sexual health education. This all stems from changing our ways and becoming informed. Change is inevitable but we must be open and willing to change, or we hurt our present and future. It is paramount for individuals to embrace learning about their bodies and altering the view on how to talk about it. We must fracture the walls of shame and embarrassment. Normalizing their names and these conversations helps us progress humanity.

I want to empower myself and transform the narrative of this world, of our homes, our lives, and our culture. I understand the value of questions, education, and deepening of knowledge.

When we can champion ourselves and our bodies, we inspire the world in phenomenal ways. I draw from an urgency to make an impact, disrupt, evolve, organize, connect, and advance to influence humankind. I am 1 in 4 times three. But instead of remaining a silent stat, I decided to speak up and learn. a silent stat, I decided to speak up and learn I decided to speak up and learn. Most people don’t know what reproductive health is. Most of us don’t even know much about our own bodies and therefore cannot advocate for humane treatment or bodily autonomy. Change began the moment I switched my approach. Instead of bashfully going along with the status quo, I became the disturbance in the stratosphere.

Embracing change shatters the veil of silence, fear, awkwardness, guilt, isolation, and inadequacy. All it takes is a valiant voice and a powerful conversation can be sparked. People from all over the world are acknowledging they want more dialogue. They want more education. The want more power over their own lives. We cannot change what we don’t dare speak of and we cannot be empowered without wisdom. Let’s ignite a curious culture and adopt a fresh outlook on our reproductive health.

I will continue to speak up and be steadfast about change. I issue a call to arms for people to stand with me and begin the learning process. Don’t hide in the oblivion. Don’t use ridiculous euphemisms or jargon to describe your body.

Revolutionize your health with brave queries. When we ask, we discover new things. When we gather intel, we become wise. This shapes an empowered world. Change is the key to progression and our liberty. By taking the step to Know Their Names we transform our lives and become free. Knowledge is our superpower. For more information on innovative reproductive health initiatives visit www.blaisehunter.com.

Change is about learning and growth