Dr. Lissa Rankin, who writes at “Owning Pink,” discusses scientific attempts to scientifically document vaginal orgasms. Back in medical school, she was taught that there is nothing in the vagina that could account for vaginal orgasms (as contrasted with clitoral orgasms). Does the “G-spot” really exist. That’s where her story begins.
Here’s some information from Lissa Rankin’s About Page:
I am an OB/GYN physician, author of two (soon to be three) books, a professional artist, a blogger, an online entrepreneur, and a mother, but I am more than what I do- and so are you. I started this website in April, 2009 because I was frustrated with the limited way most people, especially doctors, define health. After leaving my traditional medical practice in 2007 because I was disillusioned by the broken, outdated patriarchal model of medicine, I realized that you can quit your job, but you can’t quit your calling, and I felt truly called to help people heal, connect, and thrive.
Rankin focuses on far more than the body itself in her quest to promote health. For example, in this post, she offers the lesson she has learned regarding “How Do You Find Love?” Rankin recently appeared at TED, suggesting that the body is “a mirror of how we live our lives.”
I watched this video with a mix of enthusiasm and consternation. I have no fault with most of what she says here—of course you have to live the life best suited to you. We should all be so fortunate.
But it reminded me of all those cliches of the poor sap sitting in his or her doctor’s office and being told “You have too much stress. Take a few months off, travel.”
And you think: on what?
Some people can do this, even going so far as to risk their livelihood, because they are in a position to not really sweat it. (The doctor in this video is a case in point—like she was really going to have trouble getting another job if she had to?) Most people simply can’t do that.
Let me say that again. Most people SIMPLY. CAN’T. DO. THAT.
We are stuck with the need to feed, clothe, and house ourselves with what skills we have and the attempt to transfer or transform them into something else more “in tune” with our healthful needs would be more injurious to our state of being than staying in the situation we’re in, because at least where we are feeds us.
There’s a degree of privilege implicit in this that is infuriating to people who already have limited options.
And then, of course, there are those poor folks who know what they want to do with their lives and simply don’t have the ability.
So. While I can agree in principle with much of what Dr. Rankin prescribes, it is virtually worthless advice for millions of people who still need something to alleviate the misery in their lives.
Mark: I agree with your point. In her talk, she admits that she had all the material comforts of life, but that she was still miserable, so she gave much of it up. Nonetheless, it was her choice, and there are millions (billions) out there who could only dream that they had the means to a modicum of material comfort.
I should admit that that is the backdrop for much of what I do. Here I am, obsessed quite often with meaning of life issues way up on Maslow’s pyramid while many folks can’t fathom having the time and means to pursue these endeavors. I too am often engaged in what seem to be luxuries.