Shannon fidgeted with one of her short, low, blond ponytails as she fought the urge to take notes while her professor described the ten foot tall vulva on the projection screen. It was an illustration, but it was realistic. This vulva had wrinkly inner lips, like Shannon's, and stubbly pubic hair, not like the smooth, tight pussies in her grandpa's old Playboy magazine stash.
That's my "urethral opening"
, Shannon noted.
Above my... main opening, let's call it... below my clit. And my clitoral hood?
She glanced around cautiously. Everyone was pretty quiet, but only a couple students were typing notes. She didn't want to seem too eager to jot all of this down.
Shannon's sex ed in high school had been from a nervous nun who stuttered when talking about the names of genitals. Not at all like the relaxed, kind, bearded young professor who kept cracking actually funny jokes while describing the process of penises getting engorged with blood or how some guys didn't know if pads attached to underwear or vulvas.
What the hell was a clitoral hood?
She couldn't picture where her urine came out, let alone some complex "bundle of nerves" above it.
"In general," the professor stressed, "people of all genders are much less familiar with the anatomy of ovary-bodied people than testicle-bodied people."
That got a few nervous chuckles and some nods.
"There may be a variety of sociological reasons for that, but the outcomes aren't positive. Outside of gynecology, there are some knowledge gaps around ovary-bodied people's genitals and reproductive systems in general with physicians, leading to experiences of, say, ovary pain, or a urinary tract infection, being misunderstood by those doctors."
"And--perhaps of more concern to you in the short-run--there is a significant drop in sexual pleasure for folks with vulvas, compared to folks with penises--both with partners and when flying solo."
That got a chorus of anxious laughter, coupled with a brave girl's applause.
Mr. Lawrence smiled along with the laughter, but had a thoughtful tone as expanded on this idea.
"The orgasm gap when folks with clitorises are partnered with folks with penises is dramatic. And unnecessary. And making sure that everyone has a clear understanding of their body, and how to pleasure it, is an equity issue."
"For folks who are sexual--no pressure for those of us who are more ace--masturbation is often a space for establishing knowledge of--and agency over--your own body. Which impacts sexual connections with partners, as well."
Shannon felt herself jump at a tap on her shoulder. A sincerely apologetic guy's voice followed as she turned around.
"Sorry, this is dumb, but do you have a charging cable? My roommate borrowed mine and my laptop is almost dead."
"Sure," She whispered, unplugging her own cord. She was at full power. "Here."
His fingers brushed hers as he accepted her cord.
"I'm Ryan," he offered while he fumbled for an outlet.
"Shannon," she whispered, studying him for a moment. He was on the smaller size, probably her height, with a rather middle of the road outfit choice for their first day of class. But his dark brown hair falling over his light skin and freckles had an endearing effect as he pushed it back behind his ears.
"Ovary-bodied people?" one of the girls sitting near me asked with an eyebrow raised once class was dismissed. A few people chuckled.
"But nonbinary and trans people," someone pushed back.
"I know," the original speaker smiled, "it's just going to take some getting used to."
"Yeah," added a third girl, "'Gynophilic,' and 'androphilic.'" she pronounced the unfamiliar words.
"It kind of sounds like we're all sort of pan or bi anyway," Shannon added to the conversation. Several girls turned in her direction. One raised her eyebrows and shrugged.
"I mean, I'm pretty much only into guys," she laughed.
"I know, but even only dating guys, girls are more pretty to, like, look at," She added.
The quiet from the others felt awkward.
"I mean, I'm only into femme people, so I agree with the last part at least," an androgynous classmate smiled, mercifully breaking the awkward silence. The conversation wrapped up as students got up to head in different directions.
Okay... note to self, not everyone finds girls pretty,
Shannon chided herself as she left class.
Thank God I didn't chime in about how hard it is to find my clitoris.
"Glad you made it today," Mr. Lawrence was playfully fist-bumping willing students as they left the room. His short beard, well-fitted jeans, and cute glasses worked really well for him. She felt a little thrill at eye contact and the back of his knuckles bumping hers.
Okay, definitely not
only
attracted to girls. Or gynephilia or whatever,
Shannon noted as she headed to lunch.
Shannon's fingers hovered tentatively over her laptop keyboard, her eyes studying the detailed chart of a vulva on the screen. She tried to commit each part to memory, feeling a flush of embarrassment as she realized how little she knew about her own body. Maya--her gorgeous Black roommate--lounged on her top bunk bed, scrolling through her phone, engaging in their light-hearted conversation about their classes.
When Maya climbed down to head to their bathroom Shannon quickly scrolled down, feeling exposed with the explicit chart on display.
"Anyone fun in any of your classes?" Maya asked.
"Uhm.. A cute guy in my Human Sexuality class borrowed my charger today?" Shannon offered, unsure if it qualified.
Maya had only pulled the door partway closed, and Shannon could hear the gentle hiss of Maya urinating, painting a vivid picture in her mind of her roommate's nightly routine. Her cheeks heated involuntarily while she scolded herself internally for being so prudish.
"Nice." Maya's voice floated through the gap in the doorway. "I met this really cute girl in my art class today with these amazing tattoos."
She tried to focus on Maya's words, picturing the mysterious girl instead of the intimate scene unfolding through the cracked bathroom door. "Cool. What kind of tattoos did she have?" she asked as Maya flushed.
Maya began to explain, emerging from the bathroom wearing only her underwear and a clingy t-shirt. Toothbrush in hand, she continued to chat animatedly while foam gathered at the corners of her mouth. Shannon's eyes ran over Maya's body involuntarily, taking in the smooth curve of her underwear, the way her breasts seemed to defy gravity beneath her shirt.
"And they wrap all the way up her arm," Maya explained, wandering back into the bathroom to finish brushing her teeth.
