The leading Dutch dictionary Dikke van Dale announced last month that it would include "vulvalippen" — a neutral, anatomically accurate term for the labia — in its upcoming online edition, positioning it alongside the traditional "schaamlippen," which translates as "shame lips" or "pubic lips." The decision marks a significant victory for campaigners who have spent years pushing to replace stigma-laden terminology with language that does not reinforce negative associations with women's bodies.
The move reflects a broader European effort to reform how medical professionals, educators and society discuss women's anatomy, sexuality and health. Advocates argue that language shapes self-perception and that outdated, shame-based terms contribute to body dissatisfaction, medical anxiety and barriers to open conversation about reproductive health.
"Language shapes how we see ourselves," says Shari Klein, one of the founders of the Schaamteloos campaign, which targets words incorporating "schaam" or "shame." "It's crucial people have a more neutral, anatomically correct word — not a word that links to shame, whether consciously or sub-consciously."
According to Dutch media reports, Dikke van Dale has confirmed that "schaamlippen" will remain in the dictionary while "vulvalippen" will be added as an additional term rather than a replacement. The dictionary's editor, Ton den Boon, justified the inclusion by noting that the new term is becoming more established in Dutch language use and is already appearing in media coverage, biology textbooks, medical leaflets and even veterinary medicine.
The Schaamteloos campaign, driven by organizations including The Oh Collective, Pleasure Society and The Vulva Gallery, has positioned the dictionary change as evidence that society is finally ready to move beyond shame-based terminology. On 5 September 2026, the campaign held a "Merkin March" in Utrecht to maintain momentum for wider adoption of the new word in everyday conversation and professional settings.
Why language matters in medical care
Esther Van der Valk, part of the prominent Dutch feminist group Dolle Mina, emphasizes that the campaign extends beyond simple terminology — it addresses sex positivity and the reduction of body shaming in healthcare and education. The next phase involves persuading doctors and medical officials to incorporate "vulvalippen" into patient leaflets, consultations and clinical guidance.
The problem extends beyond a single word. Dutch contains multiple shame-based terms relevant to both men and women, including "schaam haar" (pubic or shame hair), "schaam been" (pubic or shame bone) and even "schaam lice" for pubic lice. However, critics acknowledge that changing vocabulary alone will not necessarily transform people's lived experiences or eliminate deeply ingrained attitudes toward the body.
The Dutch initiative mirrors similar campaigns across Europe. In Germany, journalists Gunda Windmüller and Mithu Sanyal launched a petition in 2018 to replace "Shamlippen" with "Vulvalippen." Windmüller was motivated after a gynaecologist described the shame many women experience when discussing their bodies and undergoing medical examinations. While writing an article on the subject, she discovered she could not even reference anatomy without invoking the word shame. Although "Vulvalippen" has not yet been adopted by a German dictionary, Windmüller has observed the term appearing in school textbooks, women's magazines and everyday conversation.
Sweden achieved a similar victory in 2009 when the academic dictionary added a new word for "hymen" following a campaign by the association for sexuality education (RFSU). The traditional term "mödomshinna" translates as "maidenhood skin" or "virginity membrane" — language that reinforces anatomically inaccurate myths about hymens functioning as seals that break during first intercourse. The replacement term "slidkrans" means "vaginal corona," reflecting the scientific understanding that the hymen typically consists of folds of tissue arranged in a ring rather than a complete barrier.
"With a new word we can challenge the myths that seek to control women's sexuality and freedom," says Sonja Ghaderi of the RFSU.
Ghaderi notes that "slidkrans" is now used particularly by healthcare professionals and in youth clinics, though misinformation persists, underscoring the need to transform social attitudes alongside language.
Medical terminology and its emotional impact
In the United Kingdom, feminist podcast host Nicola Denson-Elliott launched a petition to replace "hysterectomy" (surgical removal of the womb) with "uterectomy." She argues that "hysterectomy" carries linguistic connections to "hysteria," a condition once classified as a disease of emotional excess supposedly unique to women. Denson-Elliott contends that medical terminology should be anatomically precise rather than historically rooted in misogyny.
The problem extends into obstetric and gynaecological language more broadly. Linguistics researcher Dr Beth Malory has studied terminology used around pregnancy and loss, identifying phrases that carry judgmental connotations. One example is "incompetent cervix," used to describe cervical shortening that increases the risk of pregnancy loss and early birth. Women have reported that this language made them feel blamed for a medical condition beyond their control.
"Why do we need judgmental words like failure or incompetence?" asks obstetrician Dr Brooke Vandermolen.
Vandermolen has moved away from certain traditional terms in her own practice, including "failure to progress," which describes labour that does not advance as expected. She emphasizes the psychological weight of medical language:
"Language is incredibly important and the words we choose can show recognition and make people feel validated and seen."
In 2022, the Royal College of Midwives produced guidance offering alternative phrases to replace judgmental terminology. Yet Vandermolen observes that some traditional terms persist in clinical practice and continue to cause distress to patients.
Dr Malory cautions that any terminology changes must be carefully researched. She raises practical questions: Will patients understand new terms like "uterectomy"? Would simply saying "removal of the womb" be clearer? New medical vocabulary cannot be ambiguous, and systemic consistency is essential to prevent confusion across healthcare settings.
What happens next
According to Dutch media, Dikke van Dale is expected to add "vulvalippen" in the next update of its online dictionary, likely in autumn 2026. The Schaamteloos campaign plans to continue pushing for everyday adoption of the term so that "vulvalippen" becomes more established in Dutch language use across medical, educational and social contexts.
Whether the dictionary inclusion will drive widespread adoption remains uncertain. Language change happens gradually, and professional adoption by doctors, educators and textbook publishers will be critical to normalizing the new terminology. Vandermolen expresses hope that the Dutch development will spark similar conversations in other countries about how medical and everyday language shapes women's experiences of their own bodies and healthcare encounters.
