I had the great pleasure this week to be invited to speak at the Shine Festival to talk on topics close to my heart and, ahem, Vulva 😆
The atmosphere was electric! Organised by shona.ie the three-day Shine festival was put together in honour of International Day of the Girl. Some 1200 4th year schoolgirls gathered to listen to hundreds of Irelands most inspirational women share their wisdom to tomorrow’s women- a kind of mentorship in action (and sequins!) I was so delighted to be asked to speak to the next generation of young women who, I hope, will feel much more confident and in charge!
I spoke about women’s bodies, how to own and love your own, and how to be your own best friend and advocate. We spoke about sexual health too, an often-taboo subject which denies too many the information they need for consent and bodily autonomy.
Viva La Vulva
On my Viva La Vulva Tour (Dublin ‘25 Tickets Here!) I hear from so many of you who WISHED they’d known about their hormones or vulvas or sexual wellness SOONER!
You tell me how much more confident you feel going into your doctors, armed with information to help your pelvic floors and beyond. Many of you say just having a safe space to speak and celebrate getting older, wiser and SILLIER is a breath of fresh air!
💜I just want women to feel their best at any age….
The Future of Women Is Here- and It’s FABULOUS!
At Shine, I know these young ladies will grow to be so much more informed about their body and health- as opposed to the way many of us women in Ireland were educated about our bodies … 🥴
I hope I am building something similar to Shona’s mission here, with all of you fabulous people. 💜
Rallies and Allies for Women’s Health
This gathering has charged me with even more energy to connect with women across the country to be comfortable in their own bodies. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be aware, NOT afraid, of the changes that will occur as we age, and to be prepared for those changes to work for us, not against us.
Creating these rallies for women’s voices means our needs can be better met. Not too long ago I hosted a podcast with Margaret Walsh on the subject of the under- representation of teenage girls and women in sport. Rather than their abilities being a limiting factor, sports become a minefield of discomfort for girls as they go through puberty. Often something as basic as the GAA shorts not fitting female bodies properly or comfortably, or the fact that they are white and therefore not ‘period friendly’ means that girls opt out more frequently. I hope we can change this with more of these festivals and mentorship programs like Shona!
Shame- The Limiting Factor for Limitless Self Belief
Self-care for me isn’t just getting my hair and nails done- though God knows it sure helps! Taking care of ourselves is being able to talk about what we are worried about with our friends, to take the shame away from talking about our bodies so we can get the care we need. I find it heart-breaking to hear of so many women who suffer in silence. Silence only breeds shame and worse, we can get drawn into predatory marketing. The ‘feminine hygiene’ douche marketing machine infers that young women should be ashamed of their natural body odours.
😡Where are the Willy Washes in the pharmacies, I wonder…? EXACTLY!
Looking forward to continuing to champion you all!
Laura x
