This really bothers me!

Yup, it’s common useage, not ignorance. Our language is full of those sorts of “errors.” People still say “dial” this number or “did you get a dial tone” when there are no more rotary phones. Language evolves with useage.

Get over it. Saying Vagina is more known (especially to younger females who are just learning about their bodies), when we talk about vagina we are talking about the entire thing most of the time. Most young girls wouldn’t even know what Vulva was. We are just trying to help them understand thing in terms they know.

I know that as well but I still use vagina because it is the most common term and then everyone understands what I am taking about.

I always just refer to it as ‘downstairs’, haha. However, I was well-aware that the vagina is the internal part. A woman’s genitelia is made up of several areas and so I prefer to use a more broad description. People not getting it right isn’t something to get frustrated about though. If people hear the wrong term and then adopt it themselves they cannot necessarily be blamed for not being aware of the correct terminology until they are educated on that detail. But I agree that I hear people get it wrong quite often…

Most “Americans” do know the correct terminology…but in sex ed classes in school they are normally taught that every part makes up the vagina. I don’t think there is anything wrong with saying that “my vagina hurts” instead of “my vulva hurts”. The vulva is only one part, just as the vagina is basically one part. To say that the “average American” doesn’t know this is a completely ignorant and stereotypical assumption…and you do know what it means when you assume something, don’t you?

Well put mandyloo :D!