Image courtesy of Florence Schechter.
While Florence Schechter has had an impressive career as a pioneering science communicator, global headlines know her as the founder of the Vagina Museum in London—the world’s first museum dedicated to gynecological anatomy. Schechter’s inspiration for the Vagina Museum came from a seemingly lighthearted moment. “I was working as a science communicator, and I had done a video about top ten animal penises. I wanted to make a vagina follow-up, but I couldn’t find nearly as much research about it,” she explained. When she expressed her frustration to a friend, they mentioned a penis museum in Iceland, leading Schechter to wonder why there was no similar museum dedicated to gynecological anatomy. This started her mission, fueled by a recognition of gender disparities in anatomical representation.
In 2019, Schechter officially opened the Vagina Museum in Camden Market, a central area in London, with the goal of breaking down stigmas and fostering open conversations about anatomy, health, and empowerment. To her surprise, the idea resonated widely.
One of the museum’s early objectives was to combat misinformation, particularly around gynecological health. Schechter recalls how the museum’s mission grew naturally from what her community said they wanted, emphasizing frustration with the lack of accessible, accurate information about the female body. The museum’s first location in Camden Market expanded its reach, exposing a diverse audience to its message.
Schechter shared an anecdote about engaging with teenage boys who initially approached the museum intending to jeer but ultimately left with answers to genuine questions. The museum provided an anatomy worksheet to enhance the exhibit’s educational experience. When three boys visited, they ridiculed the worksheet and jokingly asked Schechter about sex specifics. “I’m not gonna patronize them because that would turn them off. So I acted like we were friends. Taught them a little bit about anatomy. Once they realized, ‘Oh, we’re not going to be shamed for asking questions,’ they didn’t stop,” she recounted. “I spent probably about an hour talking to them, and it was one of my favorite experiences ever. This was a microcosm of the space we made. We built a non-judgmental, safe environment where people can ask difficult questions and not feel frightened or ashamed.”
To combat misinformation and poor sexual education in schools, the museum also engages in educational initiatives, partnering with healthcare organizations and charities to further its goals. Schechter collaborated with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and gynecological cancer charities like Eve Appeal. One partnership, with the Reproductive Justice Initiative, aimed to improve sexual health education and contraception access within London’s Black community, where information is often less accessible.
Inclusivity and diversity in sexual representation are constant priorities for Schechter. Nearly half of the Vagina Museum’s founding board of trustees were women of color, and sixty-eight percent of its volunteers and staff members are queer. Schechter explained that these demographics emerged organically. “I think [members of minority groups] look at the work of the Vagina Museum and go, ‘I need that,’ because sexual health inaccessibility is even more pronounced in those communities.”
Schechter also recognized the power of social media in science communication, acknowledging its ability to amplify the mission’s reach worldwide. “We’ve had reach in India, South Africa, Nigeria, Brazil, and that would have never happened if it weren’t for the fact that people in those countries followed us on social media and talked about us.” However, Schechter emphasized the irreplaceable importance of the museum’s physical space. The in-person experience promotes empathy and impactful interactions. “You just can’t do [that] online,” Schechter said.
Although Schechter has since stepped down from her role at the Vagina Museum, she remains excited about its future under new leadership. The museum has an upcoming exhibit on menopause, bringing another step toward destigmatizing underrepresented health topics. Schechter published a book in March 2023, V: An Empowering Celebration of the Vulva and Vagina, and is working on another book to explore how female sexuality has been historically villainized and how society can counteract these narratives.
Wielding her background in biochemistry and her strong commitment to challenging societal taboos, Schechter has redefined how we approach discussions around gynecological anatomy. Her work highlights the need to address inequalities in sexual representation and provide a safe, informative environment that encourages people to learn about the body without shame, an area where traditional sexual education often fails. Schechter aims to foster a scientifically informed society—one that embraces inclusivity and supports future generations in understanding and valuing their bodies at a time when society continues to undermine women.