Educational Media Reviews Online

Beginning with a scene of a cosmetic surgeon performing a procedure that would ‘enhance’ the fullness and symmetry of a patient’s vagina, the directors of Vulva 3.0 do not shy away from exploring the socially taboo topic of female genitalia. German directors Claudia Richarz and Ulrike Zimmerman dig deep into their research on the mainstream ideology of having the ‘perfect vagina.’ Presenting multiple viewpoints of artists, activists, historians and medical professionals, the documentary examines how this quest is harmful to girls’ and young women’s sense of self, sexuality and sexual health. In just under an hour, the documentary clarifies the roles mass media, modern psychology, and sex education play in furthering the popularity of intimate cosmetic surgery. Vulva 3.0 is recommended for gender studies, art, health and sociology courses analyzing social and cultural attitudes towards the female body.