THE SEX FILES: Florence Schuchter Talks About Her Vagina….Museum
Florence Schuchter is on a mission, one that could change the world…or at least the ‘face’ of modern museum exhibitions.
This U.K. science communicator holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham, UK., and currently, enjoys over 900,000 views on her YouTube channel. She has started her own science film company with a friend called Collab Lab and also does science stand up, and beyond all this, Florence is also looking to build the first brick-and-mortar museum dedicated to the vagina. Yes, there is a virtual museum of female genitalia, MOMA had an exhibit as did the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, still, there is no one permanent spot for study and celebration of vaginas.
Women, as men, are certainly more than just their parts, or even the sum of their parts, but how does one impress upon the public or visitors to a Vagina Museum, that it isn’t all about the genitals?
This is a great question as I certainly believe that we are made of more than just our bodies. I think this museum will show this through our events. We will be holding things such as art workshops, exercise classes, confidence/self-esteem workshops, comedy events, etc. It will also be shown in the history gallery which will essentially be about the history of oppression and feminism.
Are you getting inquiries for submissions already? Artists/performers wanting to be part of the museum?
So much!! We don’t yet have an exhibition space so I can’t accept any presently. However, in lieu, I have been asking artists to submit art digitally so it can be featured on the Instagram. Here is the first one. There will be one submission a day so keep an eye out for more!
What do you think is the main prejudices or misinformation about the vagina?
Firstly, people don’t even know where it is. The Eve Appeal (a gynaecological cancer research charity in the UK) found that only half of young women in Britain can locate a vagina on a diagram. Half!!
Another is that it is something to be ashamed of and kept hidden. How anyone could think that a perfectly normal part of the body is something to be ashamed of is beyond me and I want to understand how people come to such opinions.
What else are you working on, into while you try to raise funds for the museum?
We are currently working on our first traveling exhibit which will be an educational one about anatomy and health. We are doing comedy nights – the first one sold out more than 3 weeks in advance! We are also writing a sex-ed video series for YouTube.
Hosting free exhibits exploring the history, science and culture of vaginas, as well as holding feminist comedy nights/plays/concerts and workshops is what Florence imagines her museum will be about. Go over to her patron’s page to see how you can be a part of what she is planning or contribute some art.