Penguin to publish 'ground-breaking' book by Vagina Museum creator Schechter

Penguin is publishing a “ground-breaking and empowering” book by Florence Schechter, the creator of the world’s first bricks and mortar Vagina Museum. 

Phoebe Jascourt, commissioning editor, acquired world rights to V: An Empowering Celebration of the Vulva and Vagina from Charlotte Seymour, while at Andrew Nurnberg Associates. It will publish in March 2023. 

The publisher said: “V: An Empowering Celebration of the Vulva and Vagina is for readers aged 14+ that aims to inform, empower, debunk outdated myths, and inspire confidence in one’s own body, with witty text and bold and colourful illustrations. The book will also contain "Vagina Dialogues" throughout, through which a range of exciting and much-loved contributors talk openly about their own relationships with their vaginas and vulvas. 

“By the end of V, readers will be ready to talk about the vulva without shame or embarrassment. They will learn how vulvas have been admired in art and culture throughout history, and how powerful periods really are. And they will find out how to smash stigma, label labia, fight for the vulva’s rights and find their Big V Energy! Because if the word is taboo, how can you talk about your vagina’s health? If you can’t label the vulva, how can you speak about pleasure? And if you don’t know how your body works, how can you take care of it?” 

Schechter said: “Since I founded the Vagina Museum back in 2017, I’ve had almost every discussion possible about vaginas, vulvas, clitorises, uteruses – you name it. It has been such an honour that our visitors, volunteers and staff feel so comfortable to talk about these issues with me, particularly young people, and it is this experience that I’ve used to write this book. This is the culmination of all those conversations about people’s concerns and hopes for their V. I hope that this book helps all those who read it.” 

Jascourt added: “This is the book I wish I’d had as a teenager. It’s empowering, it’s fact-filled, it’s myth-busting, it’s inclusive, at times it’s laugh-out-loud funny and at other times it’s truly eye-opening. Ultimately this book will encourage and help young people to not feel ashamed of their bodies, to take care of themselves and to be proud of who they are. It’s truly global and universal in content, and perfect for teens, but also for any adult who wants to learn more about their vagina and their brilliant body.”