The publisher of the primary Dutch dictionary, Van Dale, will add the term “vulvalippen” as an alternative word for labia during its next online update.
Campaigners have long pushed for the addition because the traditional term, “schaamlippen,” translates literally as “shame lips.”
Addressing linguistic taboos
Women’s rights organizations, including the long-standing activist group Dolle Mina and the campaign group Schaamteloos, advocated for the change to remove shame-based terminology from discussions of female anatomy.
Activists point out that the word “schaam” appears in several anatomical terms in Dutch, including pubic hair, pubic bone, and pubic area, but they chose to focus on labia first to target the specific taboos surrounding the term.
Official language recognition
While the existing entry will remain in the dictionary, inclusion in the Dikke Van Dale gives the newer alternative official standing in the Dutch language.
The updated entry is expected to appear in the online dictionary autumn release, following growing usage among medical professionals and healthcare educators across the country.
