Vagina Love: An Owner's Manual

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From the Publisher

Vagina Love Q&A with Lili Sohn

What inspired you to write this book?

When I was 29, I had breast cancer. Before chemotherapy I preserved some of my eggs so that one day, I might have a child. At that point I learned that my body already contained all the eggs that I would have in my life. They had been in my ovaries since my birth! I was shocked. We are born with 7 million eggs. I talked about it with people, my mother and my friends. And I was not the only one in the dark. So, my quest for information began.

How has the process of writing this book changed you as a person?

Having breast cancer made me think deeply about feminism and began the process of creating this book. All the knowledge I gained while researching this book made me feel powerful and in control of my life in an important way.

Why is it important that this book be told in comics form?

My book deals with subjects that can sometimes be taboo. Illustrations and humor help break the feeling of embarrassment and can help people to learn more easily.

You seem to prefer to write about the reproductive health of “people with vaginas” instead of women. Why is this?

My breasts were removed when I had cancer, and that made me think a lot about the idea of femininity. What makes me a woman and how would I define that? These questions got me thinking about gender issues. You can be a woman without breasts or a uterus. You can be a man and have a vagina. It therefore seemed very important to me to adapt my vocabulary to be as inclusive and accessible as possible.

If you could change one thing about society as it exists now, what would it be?

Abolish gender stereotypes so that each person can be who they want to be. And abolish the patriarchy, but that goes hand in hand, doesn’t it?

If you could go back and tell your teenage-self one thing, what would it be?

You are not alone!

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Product Description

When Lili Sohn was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29, she was confronted with just how little she knew about her own anatomy. What’s that, you say? We’re born with all of the ova we’ll have for our entire lives? Well, that was news to Sohn. And her mom. And all of her friends. In Vagina Love, she embarks on a quest for information, busting myths and telling the truth. Sohn’s vibrant illustrations and snarky humor along with concrete scientific backing form an easily accessible and comprehensive guide to female reproductive anatomy from periods to masturbation, from orgasms to contraceptives.

From School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up—Sohn was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29, and soon realized that there was a lot she didn't know about her body or female bodies in general. She began to research the cisgender female body and created an illustrated survey of her findings—for the first time in Belgium in 2018, now translated for English-speaking audiences—including such topics as what it means to be female, anatomy, menstruation and sanitary products, pregnancy and genetics, contraception, orgasms, gynecology, and menopause. Although Sohn (who presents as a white woman) gives a nod to the fact that being female is more than the body parts you do or do not have, respectful discussion of trans women and intersex individuals occurs only minimally. The coverage of topics only goes so deep given the overall scope, and information is shared conversationally; Sohn's narration utilizes slang, including the regular use of "pussy." There are a few passing mentions of pornography in discussing sources of sex and anatomical education some individuals consume. The illustrations eschew typical paneling, instead relying on color blocking, white space, illustrations, and text boxes to lead the eye, though not always straightforwardly. Many pages contain paragraphs of information or narration. Bold magenta and purple backgrounds complement surrounding yellow and orange pages, and depictions of body parts are detailed but not obscene or gratuitous. Back matter contains a select bibliography and a short list of websites for further exploration. VERDICT Sohn provides an informal, informative, and colorful look at information that is often withheld from adolescents with vaginas about their own bodies. Recommended for high school shelves.—Alea Perez

Review

“A lighthearted but educational delve (so to speak) into the vagina, combines practical information and personable anecdotes. . . .The handbook will prove most useful for younger adult readers, but it also serves as a welcome reminder to all that bodies are silly, miraculous, and worth getting to know.” —Publishers Weekly

“Part manual, part memoir, it's an informative tour of not just the vagina, but gender, sexuality and the health stuff that comes with being a person that has a vagina. . . . I really recommend this as an educational and entertaining tool for better understanding the human body and all the social, political, economical implications of having a vagina.”—Sequential Artists Workshop

“A refreshing conversation that disarms limiting gender beliefs and debunks patriarchal myths, allowing those of us with vaginas to look directly at our bodies with curiosity and love.” —adrienne maree brown, author of the New York Times best seller Pleasure Activism

“Like a savvy big sister who just found out and can't wait to share, Lili Sohn takes us on a wild ride through our anatomy, and the attitudes that have kept us in the dark.” —Sabrina Jones, author of Our Lady of Birth Control

“This ultra-informative and beautifully vibrant work gave me a brand-new appreciation for my most cherished possession, my vagina!” —Aisha Redux, author of Stupid Black Girl

“A touching, honest, and thorough must-read. Lili Sohn uses her very personal journey to educate us about subjects we should know more about already.” —Elissa Stein, coauthor of Flow

“Simultaneously provocative, educational, and disarmingly charming. It’s not just a great read for people with vaginas; I think other curious people will love this book too!” —Kriota Willberg, author of Draw Stronger

About the Author

Lili Sohn is an author and illustrator currently living in Marseille, France. She studied visual art at the University of Strasbourg. When Sohn was diagnosed with breast cancer, she started a comics blog called documenting her relationship to the medical world and her experience with her diagnosis. She has published several other works in French including La Guerre des Tétons, Mamas, and Portrait de Rue.