Clitoris

Fame<Infamy · Aug 25, 2010

I hope this isn't too much for in here.

[FONT=&quot]Lewis expelled a deep breath as his hand came to rest over her stomach and ghosted down until it hovered over her clitoris. [/FONT]

This sentence caused me a lot trouble this week, can you guess why? It's the word clitoris. Now this isn't anywhere near the start of my novel, in fact it takes place 72,000 words into the piece and its the first descriptive sex in the book and that I've ever written for a book.

I was told by one person that this word is offensive to women.

Some men told me that it just turns any story its in to smut.

And then I was told it shouldn't be used outside of medical text books.

What I guess I want to know is, why does this word carry such a stigma. When I asked about words like penis and even vagina they didn't draw nearly the criticism and despite me proving my point and beating back the criticism to keep the word there and tell everyone to back off, I wonder what could make a word like this--meant to describe a natural, beautiful body part--such a despised and reviled word.

scarletpeaches · Aug 25, 2010

Fame<Infamy said:
I hope this isn't too much for in here.

This sentence caused me a lot trouble this week, can you guess why? It's the word clitoris. Now this isn't anywhere near the start of my novel, in fact it takes place 72,000 words into the piece and its the first descriptive sex in the book and that I've ever written for a book.

I was told by one person that this word is offensive to women.

Some men told me that it just turns any story its in to smut.

And then I was told it shouldn't be used outside of medical text books.

What I guess I want to know is, why does this word carry such a stigma. When I asked about words like penis and even vagina they didn't draw nearly the criticism and despite me proving my point and beating back the criticism to keep the word there and tell everyone to back off, I wonder what could make a word like this--meant to describe a natural, beautiful body part--such a despised and reviled word.

This person is talking bullshit, and you can quote me on that.

thethinker42 · Aug 25, 2010

I'm with scarletpeaches on this one.

Satori1977 · Aug 25, 2010

The word is far from offensive. If anything, we women want to talk about it more because too many men don't know much about it. Like what and where it is, and what to do with it.

But in most stories, you see the word "clit" over "clitoris". Rolls off the tongue a little better, I think.

The stigma is just in a woman's sexuality. Even in this day and age, many people, men and women, think that "good girls" don't like that. They shouldn't find sex pleasurable. Shouldn't masterbate. And for many women, that is how they orgasm best, by the clit.

Don't listen to these repressed, ignorant people.

Fame<Infamy · Aug 25, 2010

Oh no, I took care of her, she basically got told that by me and two other girls and she was told that the only thing offensive was the double standard she placed on clitoris versus penis.

I flew off the handle, I admit because this all started because I told a story about how I told my friend the only body part I named in my story started with a "c". She automatically assumed I meant cunt and was like "why would you say that?" well when I told her it was clitoris, we had a good laugh.

Later I retold the story as I thought it was funny, and the girl who said it was offensive also said my friend was uncultured for not chastising me for using the word. That's where I came undone.

Satori1977 said:
The word is far from offensive. If anything, we women want to talk about it more because too many men don't know much about it. Like what and where it is, and what to do with it.

But in most stories, you see the word "clit" over "clitoris". Rolls off the tongue a little better, I think.

The stigma is just in a woman's sexuality. Even in this day and age, many people, men and women, think that "good girls" don't like that. They shouldn't find sex pleasurable. Shouldn't masterbate. And for many women, that is how they orgasm best, by the clit.

Don't listen to these repressed, ignorant people.

I described it as being like those old video games where you fight a boss and there's a special part that pops up for you to hit and kill the boss. The clitoris is like that, except for its not a fight, its sex and you're not killing the girl.

scarletpeaches · Aug 25, 2010

Satori1977 said:
The word is far from offensive. If anything, we women want to talk about it more because too many men don't know much about it. Like what and where it is, and what to do with it.

But in most stories, you see the word "clit" over "clitoris". Rolls off the tongue a little better, I think.

The stigma is just in a woman's sexuality. Even in this day and age, many people, men and women, think that "good girls" don't like that. They shouldn't find sex pleasurable. Shouldn't masterbate. And for many women, that is how they orgasm best, by the clit.

Don't listen to these repressed, ignorant people.

This is it, in a nutshell.

Why a woman should be offended by her body parts being called by their correct name, God alone knows, seeing as he created it.

Thanks, God!

Satori1977 · Aug 25, 2010

Actually did a search on clitoris, and found an interesting little blurb....did you know that google has banned the word clitoris from its search engines?? But words liek penis and scrotum (the male equivilant) are ok? What does that say?

Men's sexual organs are perfectly find, but women's are dirty and shameful.

Satori1977 · Aug 25, 2010

Fame<Infamy said:
Oh no, I took care of her, she basically got told that by me and two other girls and she was told that the only thing offensive was the double standard she placed on clitoris versus penis.

I flew off the handle, I admit because this all started because I told a story about how I told my friend the only body part I named in my story started with a "c". She automatically assumed I meant cunt and was like "why would you say that?" well when I told her it was clitoris, we had a good laugh.

Later I retold the story as I thought it was funny, and the girl who said it was offensive also said my friend was uncultured for not chastising me for using the word. That's where I came undone.

I described it as being like those old video games where you fight a boss and there's a special part that pops up for you to hit and kill the boss. The clitoris is like that, except for its not a fight, its sex and you're not killing the girl.

Yes, many women are offended by the word cunt. As for not killing the girl, you are if you are doing it right....a good orgasm makes you feel like you are dying.

scarletpeaches · Aug 25, 2010

I'm sure there's a punchline about Google not wanting us to search for the clit...

But it shows up fine on my search engine.

Said The Sun · Aug 25, 2010

Hm. I am a woman and I do not find that word offensive. Nor do I have issues reading words like that, though I too try to avoid them in my own writing. I guess it depends on what the book is about. If it isn't a steamy romance or a sex themed scenario, you should probably try to avoid it, but then again some of the best books I've read (banned of course) use clear and direct language like that -- had they not, they probably wouldn't have been such great pieces of literature.

If it bothers you, look for an alternative that isn't so brusque. Like the "the crest of her womanhood". heh. Cheesy, but probably not as scandalous to the permanently sensitive.

scarletpeaches · Aug 25, 2010

If any book used a phrase like 'crest of her womanhood', I'd puke, laugh, then throw the book at the wall.

It's a clit. Call it a clit. If anyone's ashamed of it, fuck 'em.

Fame<Infamy · Aug 25, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
This is it, in a nutshell.

Why a woman should be offended by her body parts being called by their correct name, God alone knows, seeing as he created it.

Thanks, God!

What's funny is that I know a girl who admitted to being kjind of scared to look at herself down there but that word and discussing it didn't bother her. I guess she's just mature.

Satori1977 said:
Actually did a search on clitoris, and found an interesting little blurb....did you know that google has banned the word clitoris from its search engines?? But words liek penis and scrotum (the male equivilant) are ok? What does that say?

Men's sexual organs are perfectly find, but women's are dirty and shameful.

Is safe search on? I am finding it fine.

Did you know on American TV you could say penis but not vagina? It was because before very recently the official rule was Vagina's didn't exist, cause their holes...pretty stupid huh?

Satori1977 said:
Yes, many women are offended by the word cunt. As for not killing the girl, you are if you are doing it right....a good orgasm makes you feel like you are dying.

Cunt is pretty offensive, I don't think I would call someone that because of the stigma, but its not the proper name like clitoris. Plus my friend is a Britt and they seem to take it more serious there.

And lol I will keep that in mind, oddly enough in the same scene in my story, right before the scene ends the female character describes her orgasm as "it felt like dying".

scarletpeaches said:
I'm sure there's a punchline about Google not wanting us to search for the clit...

But it shows up fine on my search engine.

Lol

Said The Sun · Aug 25, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
If any book used a phrase like 'crest of her womanhood', I'd puke, laugh, then throw the book at the wall.

It's a clit. Call it a clit. If anyone's ashamed of it, fuck 'em.

As I wrote that I giggled and shook my head

Fame<Infamy · Aug 25, 2010

Said The Sun said:
Hm. I am a woman and I do not find that word offensive. Nor do I have issues reading words like that, though I too try to avoid them in my own writing. I guess it depends on what the book is about. If it isn't a steamy romance or a sex themed scenario, you should probably try to avoid it, but then again some of the best books I've read (banned of course) use clear and direct language like that -- had they not, they probably wouldn't have been such great pieces of literature.

If it bothers you, look for an alternative that isn't so brusque. Like the "the crest of her womanhood". heh. Cheesy, but probably not as scandalous to the permanently sensitive.

Yeah I couldn't live with writing a euphemism like that. And my other friend, a girl threatened to kick me in the balls if I did.

scarletpeaches said:
If any book used a phrase like 'crest of her womanhood', I'd puke, laugh, then throw the book at the wall.

It's a clit. Call it a clit. If anyone's ashamed of it, fuck 'em.

Lol I am more about the direct, I think I dropped an f-bomb or two outside of quotations too.

scarletpeaches · Aug 25, 2010

Well, I write erotic romance and this is the erotica forum after all.

I've never used 'clitoris' as far as I can recall. Clit, though? Plenty of times.

I also happen to be rather fond of my own.

Satori1977 · Aug 25, 2010

I agree, I hate seeing sexual things glossed over in a flowery way. That just tells us again we should be ashamed of our bodies.

I have been reading this paranormal romance, good book, very hot sex scenes. But one things has been irking the crap out of me. The writer uses the term cock all the time. Even balls quite often. But when she gets to the woman...it is core. Not vagina, labia, clit, pussy. She doesn't use any of those words, just core. Makes me think of a damn apple, and jars me out of the story. Not sure if it is her doing, or the pub, but I don't like it.

Said The Sun · Aug 25, 2010

Guilty. I've used it. And it is probably one of the best lines in my current WIP.

“Indecisive, actually. I'm stuck between blonde drapes and cherry mantles.”
“Oh surely not red!” Aunt Vera sounded as if her clitoris had been ripped and there were no prospects of recovery.

Fame<Infamy · Aug 25, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
Well, I write erotic romance and this is the erotica forum after all.

I've never used 'clitoris' as far as I can recall. Clit, though? Plenty of times.

I also happen to be rather fond of my own.

I'm writing Urban Fantasy, but I don't want to be a little idiot and pull punches.

Satori1977 said:
I agree, I hate seeing sexual things glossed over in a flowery way. That just tells us again we should be ashamed of our bodies.

I have been reading this paranormal romance, good book, very hot sex scenes. But one things has been irking the crap out of me. The writer uses the term cock all the time. Even balls quite often. But when she gets to the woman...it is core. Not vagina, labia, clit, pussy. She doesn't use any of those words, just core. Makes me think of a damn apple, and jars me out of the story. Not sure if it is her doing, or the pub, but I don't like it.

I thought abut using pussy and cock and the like, but I think it would only work if the girl narrating the scene were the type to say that. She's pretty OCD and hates to be touched and if she wasn't doped up on this magic spell she wouldn't be sleeping with this guy, who happens to be married and her partner. The sex plays into the plot big time, as far as it being a literal trigger for something else (as in spell trigger).

But the full paragraph I wrote is as follows to show how matter of a fact its stated (this is not edited yet).

Holly stirred as his hand fumbled about between them and raised her body up to give him more room. The anticipation hurt, not badly but in the way your cheek aches from biting into a lemon or orange when the glands rush to compensate. Her enthusiasm mounted as she felt his penis nudging against her. As he rubbed his way inside of her there was an exhilarating pinch of pain and gratification and he was inside of her. Lewis expelled a deep breath as his hand came to rest over her stomach and ghosted down until it hovered over her clitoris. “Is this okay?” his whisper in her ear came as a shock.

Said The Sun · Aug 25, 2010

Fame<Infamy said:
I thought abut using pussy and cock and the like, but....

Christ. Please don't call it Pussy. :ROFL:

Satori1977 · Aug 25, 2010

Fame<Infamy said:
Is safe search on? I am finding it fine.

No, I am not having any problems finding it, but I use bing, not google. I just happened upon someone's personal webpage, and they said google had banned the word from their search engines. Maybe it was an old post.

Guardian · Aug 25, 2010

Yeah, when search is set to strict filtering, you can't look for the word "clitoris" on Google. But you can look up "penis" and a lot of other words for sexual body parts. Kind of sexist. Strict search is massively flawed.

Satori1977 · Aug 25, 2010

Fame<Infamy said:
I'm writing Urban Fantasy, but I don't want to be a little idiot and pull punches.

I thought abut using pussy and cock and the like, but I think it would only work if the girl narrating the scene were the type to say that. She's pretty OCD and hates to be touched and if she wasn't doped up on this magic spell she wouldn't be sleeping with this guy, who happens to be married and her partner. The sex plays into the plot big time, as far as it being a literal trigger for something else (as in spell trigger).

But the full paragraph I wrote is as follows to show how matter of a fact its stated (this is not edited yet).

I have read the word cock more often than penis in UF. But for some reason, the terms for the female anatomy is always glossed over.

Fame<Infamy · Aug 25, 2010

Said The Sun said:
Christ. Please don't call it Pussy.

I didn't, I don't really like that word. It's pretty unsexy and even though sexy wasn't my intention I want the characters to feel sexy.

Satori1977 said:
No, I am not having any problems finding it, but I use bing, not google. I just happened upon someone's personal webpage, and they said google had banned the word from their search engines. Maybe it was an old post.

Oh, bing. I never do that thing. It might be old, google does crazy stuff for like a day sometimes. Also it could be a certain country doing it.

Satori1977 · Aug 25, 2010

Said The Sun said:
Christ. Please don't call it Pussy.

Why not? I have read lots of stories that use that word.

Satori1977 · Aug 25, 2010

I love Bing, it is a great search engine.

Clitoris

Fame<Infamy

scarletpeaches

thethinker42

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Satori1977

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Fame<Infamy

scarletpeaches

Satori1977

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Satori1977

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Said The Sun

foremost, for prose

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Said The Sun

foremost, for prose

Fame<Infamy

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Satori1977

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Said The Sun

foremost, for prose

Fame<Infamy

Said The Sun

foremost, for prose

Satori1977

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Guardian

just the worst honestly

Satori1977

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Fame<Infamy

Satori1977

Listening to the Voices In My Head

Satori1977

Listening to the Voices In My Head