Clitoris

“I believe that if we asked women to draw their clitoris, many of them wouldn’t know where to start…We need to learn our body, to respect and love it”, Anna suggests.

The clitoris is an organ of female genitalia whose main function is related to pleasure. It is located in vulva’s upper area, where labia minora link up. What we see is only a small external portion: the clitoris is in reality much bigger, as the majority of it develops internally with erectile structures similar to those of the penis. It is extremely rich of nerve endings, which makes it one of the most sensitive human organs. Despite its importance, the clit has been scantly studied and represented by medical science, and only recently we reached a full understanding of its structure and complexity.

Talking about the clitoris is fundamental, as its historical invisibility reflects a wider issue: for centuries, female bodies have been studied and decribed mostly from a male point of view, and female pleasure and experiences have been scantly taken into account. Therefore, having accurate representations of the clitoris means to fully recognise women’s bodies, to fight against disifnormation and taboos, and to promote an informed and comprehensive sexuality education. It is not only a purely scientific issue, but also a culturale and political one, related to autonomy and to sexual and reproductive health and rights.