More than half a million Australian women have had—or are planning—“designer surgery” on their vaginas—and under the influence of mainstream pornography and social media, reports News.com.au.
It is currently one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures among young women in Australia and around the world. The surgery, known as labiaplasty, involves removing or altering tissue from the labia. While reducing the size of the labia may be related to health, "unrealistic body standards" modeled in both porn and social media are to blame for Gen Z women considering this procedure purely for cosmetic reasons, a study from Women's Health Victoria says and YouGov.
The study surveyed 1,030 girls, women, and “people of different sexes” aged 18 to 50 about their attitude towards their genitals. A total of 23 percent of the respondents aged 18 to 24 said they felt anxious, unhappy, or embarrassed about the way their labia looked, and 35 percent said they associated it with negative words like "weird," "disgusting," or "ugly."
One in 10 respondents—the equivalent of more than half a million Australians—said they had had or considered a cosmetic procedure that carries considerable risks and has not been proven to improve self-esteem, body image, or sexual satisfaction. Of those, 46 percent said their decision was influenced by photos and videos online.
Nineteen percent of Gen Z women said they get information about what their genitals “should look like” through porn, in which the performers' labia are often airbrushed, filtered, and even surgically altered.
“While there is great porn that can boost confidence and enjoyment, there is also a lot that can be harmful. Unrealistic body standards, as modeled in both pornography and social media advertising, can cause young people to worry that their own vulva looks wrong or is misshapen."
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