Artist Sophia Wallace sheds light on the truth about the clitoris.

Consider this: In over five million years of human evolution, only one organ has come to exist for the sole purpose of providing pleasure – the clitoris. It is not required for reproduction. It doesn’t have a urethra running through it like the penis, and thus, does not urinate. Its sole function – its singular, wonderful purpose – is to make a woman feel good!!

This joyful thought is how the mysterious Miss M. began her lesson on The Internal Clitoris at the Museum of Sex blog. It’s always good to learn something new, especially when it’s about an organ that exists solely to give us women pleasure. Did you know that the clitoris is not just that little button perched atop the vaginal lips? And that the vaginal orgasm is actually an internal clitoral orgasm? If you’re surprised about this, then we’re in the same boat! Let’s discover more about the hitherto unexplored anatomy of the clitoris. Miss M. noted that the size and scope of the clitoris was only studied in recent years, so it’s not surprising the most people don’t know about it:

Try asking the next person you encounter to tell you where the clitoris is located… I’ll guess that the majority of answers you receive will sound something like, “It’s that small bulb at the top of my lips,” or, “That’s the button up under the hood.” Although these responses aren’t exactly wrong, the interesting truth is that the majority of the clitoris is actually within the pelvis – that is, it’s far more internal than external. Even most of the women I coach, women who are generally worldly and well-informed about their own bodies, react with a combination of fascination and confusion when I explain that their clitoris extends deep within them.

Sketch and 3-D image of an erect clitoris via Museum of Sex blog.

What we think of as the clitoris is only the external portion, known as the glans. This is connected to two internal shafts, the corpora cavernosa. Each shaft has a crus and a vestibule attached to it. The vestibules are bulbs located just under the skin of the vaginal lips. Here’s where it gets interesting. When the clitoris is aroused, the corpora cavernosa squeeze the vaginal tube, while the vestibules become swollen and squeeze the vaginal opening.

CLITERACY, 100 Natural Laws by Sophia Wallace is an art project that explores a paradox: the global obsession with sexualizing female bodies in a world that is illiterate when it comes to female sexuality.

Why are we only learning about this now? It was only in 2009 when Dr. Odile Buisson and Dr. Pierre Foldès completed the first 3-D image of the clitoris. Miss M. noted that they did this work with hardly any pay:

They did this work for three years without any proper funding. Thanks to them, we now understand how the erectile tissue of the clitoris engorges and surrounds the vagina— a complete breakthrough that explains how what we once considered to be a vaginal orgasm is actually an internal clitoral orgasm.

This research is especially crucial for the work of Dr. Foldès. He performs restorative surgery on victims of female circumcision. According to Miss M., he has successfully treated over 3,000 women, giving them back their rightful access to sexual pleasure. This man is a hero! It is truly bewildering that he is the only doctor in the entire world who is doing this worthwhile work. He has also spoken up about the lack of scientific research about the clitoris, calling this dearth the academic equivalent of female circumcision:

The medical literature tells us the truth about our contempt for women. For three centuries, there are thousands of references to penile surgery, nothing on the clitoris, except for some cancers or dermatology— and nothing to restore its sensitivity. The very existence of an organ of pleasure is denied, medically. Today, if you look at the anatomy books that all surgeons have, you will find two pages above. There is a real intellectual excision.

It’s true that sexism spills over into the politics of science. In fact, right up until the 1950’s, “hysteria“ was an official medical diagnosis for women exhibiting any range of “troublesome” symptoms such as anxiety, irregular menstruation, “irrational” behavior, appetite loss and so on. Doctors would then treat them with a “pelvic massage” to induce a “hysterical paroxysm”— obviously an orgasm. It baffles me as to how they couldn’t have recognized this— but apparently, during that time, it was believed that women could only feel sexual pleasure from penetration by the penis. The pelvic massage treatment was very popular, and lucrative for the doctors, but they would still complain about how tedious and tiring work it was because it took a lot of time for the patients to reach paroxysm. This resulted in the invention of the vibrator— a medical device meant to relieve doctors of this dull task. It was actually advertised in home and lifestyle magazines as a health and beauty appliance, until its sexual use was eventually openly acknowledged. How ironic and hilarious that the condescending attitude towards women came to result in the invention of a fun technology used to facilitate female sexual pleasure! A highly entertaining film— Hysteria— was recently produced, based on this true story:

The history of the vibrator is more than just quirky trivia— its happy ending reminds me that we women can look forward to a brighter future, no matter how discouraging or convoluted the path may be. We can take the cards we are dealt with, and turn them around to our advantage. In a world of instant gratification— online streaming porn available on demand— misconceptions about the clitoris abound. Yet we can use the same speedy information highway— the Internet— in order to spread the right messages about the clitoris and fight ignorance. That’s just what Cliteracy artist Sophia Wallace has done. In her interviews with Creem magazine and Huffington Post, she explains:

It is a curious dilemma to observe the paradox that on the one hand the female body is the primary metaphor for sexuality, its use saturates advertising, art and the mainstream erotic imaginary. Yet, the clitoris, the true female sexual organ, is virtually invisible… Even in porn, the clitoris is treated as this optional, kind of freaky, “wow he’s doing her this huge favor” thing.

It’s really about cliteracy becoming a meme and creating new language for bodies and sexuality. It’s a metaphor for freedom, body sovereignty and citizenship. Cliteracy is about not having one’s body controlled or legislated. Not having access to the pleasure that is your birthright is a deeply political act… It’s about breaking down walls.

Hear, hear! Let’s break down those walls and help the world become more “cliterate”. To that end, here are further readings:

21 Things Millenials Should Know About The Clitoris

The Science Of Stress, Orgasm, & Creativity: How The Brain & The Vagina Conspire In Consciousness

Molly Melching: Ending Female Genital Cutting & Supporting Women’s Rights

~ Feanne