There’s No Problem to Solve: Using Comedy and Performance to Unlearn Sexual Insecurity w/ Sydney

Ever felt insecure about the way your genitals look? Ever wish that you could have a designer vulva? Well, you’re not alone. This week, Sydney joins the podcast to discuss her comedic works regarding body image, labiaplasties, and her septate hymen, and the ways performance can disrupt beauty standards. You can check out one of her performances that we discuss on the episode linked in the description below! 

Below you can find a glossary of jargon-y terms we might’ve said on the show.  

• Bisexual: A sexual orientation that describes a person who is emotionally and sexually attracted to people of their own gender and people of other genders.
• Hymen: A membrane that partially closes the opening of the vagina. It is unclear what the purpose of the hymen is, but, evolutionarily speaking, it is believed to have once served to prevent dirt from entering the vagina. 
• Labiaplasty: A surgical procedure usually done to decrease the size of the labia minora. 
• Labia minora: The two inner folds of skin that surround the outside of the vagina. 
• “Popping your cherry:” A slang term for losing one’s virginity referring to the 'breaking of the hymen.' For most people, however, it is not a violent break or tear, but instead a stretching of the hymen that can happen in a range of ways, including from riding a bike or exercise.
• Septate hymen: A type of congenital anomaly of the hymen in which a piece of tissue creates two openings at the vaginal opening. 
• Vulva: The outer part of the female genitals, including the opening of the vagina, the labia majora, the labia minora, and the clitoris. 

For more information and resources about the things we talked about in this episode, check out the links below. 

• Planned Parenthood website: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ 
• Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-southwest-central-florida 
• Planned Parenthood Text/Chat: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/online-tools/chat 
• Sydney’s Hymen Piece, performed at The Pickle Jar Comedy Collective’s Variety Show at The Annoyance Theater (jump to 42:33!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z90LMLYo5J8 

Disclaimer:
The experiences and opinions expressed in this podcast reflect the views of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida does not guarantee the completeness, nor the accuracy of the content of this podcast and accepts no liability for any direct or indirect damage of any kind arising from, or in any way related to, the podcast’s content. The information provided in this podcast does not constitute medical, mental health, legal, or other professional advice or services.

Thank you’s and credits to the following amazing people:

• Hosts: Brianna Nelson and Kenna Bartlett 
• Planned Parenthood Staff: Kathy Dobson,  Kelsey Hunt-Dolan, and Nan Morgan 
• Audio Editor: Brianna Nelson 
• Intro and Outro Music: “Mellow” by Ethan Korvne (Check out his LP “Something Else to Do” on Spotify and Apple Music!) 
• Cover Art: Brianna Nelson