Gender neutral terms for genitalia and why it matters.

Because after all, we want everyone to feel good.

Often times in romance and in erotica we come across a description of genitalia. Yet, sometimes that description can come across as harmful and even transphobic within today’s society. Decades ago, describing a penis as “Manhood” or a vagina as “womanhood” wouldn’t cause anyone to bat an eye. But now, the transgender community is making themselves more well known and they are fighting for a voice, and with our better understanding of the transgender community, we’ve learned that terms like that can be harmful and even transphobic. So as romance and erotica writers, it’s our responsibility to change the old ways and find new and improved ways to describe genitalia in a more inclusive and gender neutral way. Below is a list of gender neutral terms you can use to describe genitalia:

• Penis

• Vagina

• Cock

• Cunt

• Shaft

• Pussy

• Sex

In addition to the obvious, as romance and erotica writers, you can tailor the description of the genitalia to the theme of the novel. You could describe a penis as a sword, gun, or things like that to fit a fantasy, historic, or other genre based theme. Additionally, you could always describe the genitalia using the senses. You could describe a vagina as warm, soft, and other things of that nature. As romance and erotica writers, there are so many ways that we can describe genitalia that it shouldn’t be too hard to erase the terms that others are finding harmful.