Most of you have probably noticed, maybe with a knee jerk reaction, that I purposely write all of my more intimate scenes using the correct anatomical terminology. I do this for four reasons, first because this is probably how it would sound through direct translation. Second, the Alliance is a very straight-forward culture and would probably use these terms anyway. Third, it’s in an effort to destigmatize these words (and it says everything about culture that there are no sexy slang terms for these areas of the woman's body). And fourth, some readers may not know the difference in these terms or where they are exactly located.
I wince when I see grown women cringing at the word ‘vagina’. I am even more shocked when I meet women who don’t know the correct terms for their bodies and somehow carry some shame in using the words, ‘labia’, ‘clitoris’ or ‘vulva’. It’s disappointing that in the 21st-century people are still uncomfortable with the correct terminology for their bodies.
We as women are the bringers of life. We should know about our bodies. Yet globally, education is failing women. Cultural shame about women’s bodies is leaving women in ignorance. And it should not be as every person alive today was born from a woman’s vagina, but yet, even that last sentence makes some people uncomfortable. And that is troublesome. It is a telltale sign of a society with an unhealthy relationship between the act of sex and subsequent procreation. And by using alternative vocabulary for body parts, separates the sex from the end goal of procreation. When you don't use the anatomically correct terminology, it becomes almost solely about the sex without any consequences in those intimate moments. And I believe that in a very little way, writing sex scenes with the correct anatomical terminology brings both the act and the consequence closer together. As the whole point of marriage is sex for procreation of children of a particular bloodline. And if sex was not intensely desirable and pleasurable, I doubt so many women (in reciprocal relationships) would have had more than one child in the past or keep having them in the present. Somehow society has managed to separate these two even though they are so intrinsically linked, especially in women's minds.
How does this relate to the Alliance Empire? Alliance people clearly separate sex as a natural desire and sex for procreation. The Alliance has developed a society that believes that sex on a weekly basis with slave artists or anything (smart beds) is necessary to remain healthy. But that sex for procreation is more meaningful and should only happen with your chosen married partner. It’s very clear for Alliance people which is which. Lucky them. Unfortunately, humans are not so black and white. Why we pursue adulterous affairs or remain faithful have no easy answers. However, one thing is for certain, I am writing these scenes with no nuances or pretense to better uncover these desires. As the sexual acts are described as they would be through an automated translation and it gives more leeway for the reader or listener to concentrate on the actions over other considerations, such as, to whether or not the word used for this or that was derogatory, cool or sexy. All that is gone, it is just the naked action. And these descriptions are raw and unforgiving sometimes, but completely appropriate for the scenes and for the Alliance Empire on the whole.
Writing in anatomically correct vocabulary also allows me to write exactly what a character might be doing with his or her fingers or tongue which is not possible if you go with the modern slang for women's genitalia which is lacking in those specific details. And how can you instruct a lover who wants to pleasure you, if you yourself, don't possess the vocabulary to adequately instruct without losing the romantic moment?
Here is a basic diagram. I am going to amaze you that when I passed this around to my friends, they could not fill in all the blanks. I think this something every woman should know about her own body. Knowledge is power. Being able to tell your lover what you want is probably the most important fixture in a healthy sex life, but you can't do that without the words, even if they feel uncomfortable at first because much of society insists that these words are not important for most women or men to know. This implicitly implies that women's sexuality is not important and I strongly disagree.
