Join me at Minge Fringe where I’ll be reading extracts from my forthcoming book, Eve’s Volcano – Saturday 18th May

 

Join me on Saturday 18th May, when I’ll be speaking at Minge Fringe  at Brighton Arts Club, as part of The Brighton Festival and Fringe. The event will comprise “an amazing array of Vagina art and performances celebrating the female form.”

It all kicks off at 3pm with live street art from Emma Buggy, then I’m on at 4pm, reading extracts from my forthcoming book, Eve’s Volcano. I’ll also be talking briefly about an innovative research programme I’m undertaking with my Women4Real colleague, Sabine Tyrvainen – we’re looking for women to volunteer an hour of their time to have their brainwaves scanned using neurofeedback, to help us develop a cognitive management programme for chronic sexual pain.

The line-up also includes poetry and performance art from artist Marga Beuth, Doctor Bongo, Persia West, Nikki Heywood and the fabulous Colette Nolan.

 

Women4Real – offering new insights and options for the 2.5 million women in the UK who find sex painful and unfulfilling

Exciting news! Women4Real is now up and running. My business partner Sabine Tyrvainen and I have just launched our innovative new health & communications consultancy. Our business focuses on what’s REAL in terms of women’s sexual experience, offering newinsights and options for women and working with a diverse range of organisations and businesses to bring about a large-scale shift in both the perception and treatment of chronic sexual pain.

A recent UK Sex Census reveals that 12% of women regularly find sex painful and unfulfilling – that equates to more than 2.5 million women in the UK who are denied what most of us take for granted as a basic human right, let alone be able to aspire to the mind-blowing sex lives we’re led to believe are the ‘norm’.

At Women4Real we are determined to make a positive difference to the 2.5 million women in the UK who are currently unable to experience fulfilling sex lives and relationships due to chronic sexual pain (as a result of conditions such as Vulvodynia, Vulval Pain, Chronic Thrush, Vaginismus and other health issues).

Whilst some superb organisations and charities exist to support women with these conditions (we are working closely with several of them) we are focusing our energy and expertise on bringing about a wider shift not only in awareness, support and treatment options but in cultural attitudes and expectations around sexuality.

Please sign up to our mailing list to receive info about our projects and events and follow us on twitter

www.women4real.com

@Women4Real

Centrefold film launches today – www.thecentrefoldproject.org

The Centrefold Project, an innovative animated film about labiaplasty, is now available to the public. You can view it, download it and use it as a resource for FREE at www.thecentrefoldproject.org . An accompanying documentary, featuring interviews with leading clinicians Sarah Creighton and Lih-Mei Liao, from University College Hospitals London, further explores the issues surrounding so-called “designer vagina” surgery.

Over the past decade, female genital cosmetic surgery has increased by a staggering 500%, with girls as young as 11 approaching doctors to request surgery, concerned about the appearance of their genitals. Centrefold takes an innovative and balanced approach to this controversial topic, following three women, aged 24 -41 through their different experiences of labiaplasty (surgery to trim or remove the labia). By documenting what is involved in the procedure and its varying outcomes, the film seeks to offer a non-judgemental view of labia surgery and to encourage informed discussion.

I joined the project last year as a PR consultant and we launched the film in London last week with a special screening and panel discussion to an invited audience of media, cosmetic surgeons, health workers and leaders of women’s organisations. Dr Phil Hammond chaired a heated discussion between audience members and our panel which included the film’s director Ellie Land, feminist author Susie Orbach, body sculptor Jamie McCartney (who created The Great Wall of Vagina) and clinicians Sarah Creighton and Lih-Mei Liao.

Join the debate and have your say at www.thecentrefoldproject.org… Is labiaplasty anti-female ‘pornification’, or an empowering personal choice?

Enjoyed speaking about “Overcoming Obstacles” at brilliant SHE SAYS Brighton event

Last week I spoke at the SHE SAYS Brighton event, “Get Over It! Overcoming Obstacles”, along with the fabulous Cara Courage. SHE SAYS is a global organisation that does fantastic work around the world empowering women in the media and creative industries, by running free mentorship and networking events. Our venue at Lighthouse Arts was full to capacity with a lively, inspiring and supportive crowd including digital creatives, writers, film-makers, illustrators, students and freelancers, as well as journalists and PR people from the Brighton Dome, the Argus and Southern FM. Met some wonderful women and can’t wait for the next session!

I approached the subject from a personal perspective, speaking about some of the big challenges I’ve moved through, including vulvodynia, chronic fatigue syndrome, periods of unemployment and my dealing with my inner critic. It was interesting to look at some varying definitions of  what an ‘obtacle’ is what we mean by ‘progress’ , ‘happiness’ and ‘success’.  For me, ‘success’ is now as much about how I feel, as what I achieve in a material sense. How do I want to feel in five years time? What do I want to learn and share? This opens up a greater flexibility and creativity, because if a particular path, or specific goal, proves difficult, there is always another route to feeling fulfilled. I finished with a quote I love from Napolean Hill, 1930s pioneer of personal development: “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”

Join me in Brighton on Thursday 12th January when I’ll be speaking at “Get Over It! …overcoming obstacles”, a SHE SAYS BRIGHTON event

Following last month’s brilliant launch event for SHE SAYS BRIGHTON, I’m thrilled to be speaking at the next session, about overcoming obstacles. I’ve faced some big ones over the years with regard to life, health and career, but it was the painful journey through these challenges that connected me with a deeper wisdom and creativity, and inspired a positive change in direction. Out of adversity came Eve’s Volcano.

Also joining me to speak on the subject is Brighton arts consultant Cara Courage – check out Cara’s super impressive website, www.caracourage.net, so looking forward to hearing her take on the topic. We already have 70 women registered to come along, so do join us –  tickets are free – it’s going to be a great night!

Visit SHE SAYS BRIGHTON for more info. SHE SAYS is a global organisation that do fantastic work around the world empowering women in the media and creative industries, by running free mentorship and networking events.