A photographer who has captured images of hundreds of vulvas is keen to show why Australian girls should never undergo genital surgery for cosmetic reasons.
Ellie Sedgwick from Byron Bay is a former nursery school teacher who has photographed over 500 vulvas since starting her ‘comfortable in my skin’ movement seven years ago.
She has now collected the photos and is about to publish a book called ‘Flip Through My Flaps’ which she wants to be distributed through Australian schools.
Ms Sedgwick told Daily Mail Australia her insecurities about her vulva started at a young age.
“I was 13 when a boy tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a note that said, ‘Do you have an innie or an outie?’ And no, he didn’t ask about my belly button,” she said.
‘At that age, I had never seen another vulva, so I had no idea where I was on the vulva spectrum. That’s when my vulva anxiety kicked in and I started asking myself, “Am I normal?”
The photographer, originally from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, said her ‘vulva anxiety’ increased over the years and she ended up having to see surgeons three times for labiaplasty.
During a labiaplasty, tissue from the labia (the skin folds around the vaginal opening) is removed or modified.
Ellie Sedgwick began photographing vulvas to promote positive body image and has collected them in a book called ‘Flip Through My Flaps’ (pictured)
Over the past seven years, the Byron Bay resident has photographed the genitals of 500 women (pictured) as part of her ‘comfortable in my skin’ initiative
But it wasn’t until Mrs. Sedgwick saw the third surgeon that she felt reassured.
‘This surgeon, after looking at my vulva, said to me, “Ellie, have you ever seen another vulva?”
He explained that mine was completely ‘normal’ and encouraged me to go to Google.
‘This consultation was the beginning of my journey to vulvar self-love and ultimately led to the idea for Flip Through My Flaps.
“Imagine if there was a place where vulva owners could go and see the beautiful diversity of vulvas everywhere.”
The photographer said she never wanted women to feel “alone and ashamed about such a sacred part of their body” and wanted to eradicate self-hatred.
Ms Sedgwick believes her book should be added to the school curriculum. She believes sex education in schools is too ‘basic’.
We just have to look at the recent data from Women Health Victoria “It concluded that labiaplasty is the fastest growing surgery in Australia, recognising that current sex education in schools is flawed,” she said.
‘Sex education in schools is basic at best and not enough is done to educate people, especially women, about their anatomy and the true diversity of genitals.
‘Flip Through My Flaps can help trained sex educators educate students about the diversity of vulvas around the world, removing the shame and stigma surrounding our body parts.’
The photographer, who has spoken to schools across the country about the importance of ‘vulvar diversity’ – and ensures lessons are age-appropriate – wants sex education to address deeper issues.
Many women have thanked Ms. Sedgwick (above) and supported her book
“Sex education should be more than just putting condoms on bananas,” she said.
“I would like to see schools create a more in-depth curriculum that covers all topics related to sex education, from genitals to consent to tracking menstrual cycles and more.
“It should be as important as mathematics.”
Ms Sedgwick also stresses the importance of only trained sex educators teaching, ‘rather than gym teachers who haven’t had the proper training’.
But the idea that the photographer’s vulva book would also be available to students has caused division on social media.
“You’ve lost the plot! Seriously!” one man wrote on her Facebook post.
Another man said, “Did I read this correctly? You’re publishing a book about “popular vulvas,” or women’s genitals, and you’re hoping to have the book distributed in schools?”
The man added: ‘Can you enlighten me – privileged white male. How is that a decent support for teaching diversity and body positivity… to kids!
‘Honestly, I wouldn’t want a coffee table book about just penises in my kids’ school library either… even though they all show an equal amount of the spectrum of the human species.’
But many women supported the photographer, whose motto was “happiness is flappiness.” One woman even wrote, “Sign me up.”
“You are the change we need and I am all for it,” one person wrote.
“That sounds great, thank you for such an important and sensible initiative!” said another.
Another added: ‘I love this because it desexualizes and brings the beauty back to our yonis!’