I have been in a couple of conversations recently where I discovered myself using words I hardly ever hear said out loud. In fact, I hardly ever hear myself saying them. But that may have changed. I found myself breaking through some kind of social seal that keeps some words unspoken. I may have violated some kind of taboo or perhaps I have simply failed to get an imprimatur. I said them out loud.
Not too surprising, those unspoken words, now spoken, are related to sex. They also point out the amazing power of words, now unleashed for me.
Even in the midst of three men, I found it a bit awkward, surprising and strange to say the word masturbation. I felt I had suddenly wandered into a forbidden zone of words when I wondered, out loud, whether buddhist monks or nuns ever masturbated. I then segued into a spoken reflection on how masturbation would once send me into hell, it being a mortal sin for a young Catholic boy. I never learned what masturbation did to young Catholic girls. That part certainly was left unspoken.
I have also been in conversations with women where the word vulva was actually spoken. It led me to query whether women spoke to one another about such things as vulva. I once heard in a very popular movie a reference to vagina, but never vulva.
Which causes me to wonder whether men use the word penis in normal conversations. There are multiple substitutes. We appear to use oblique references that only indirectly identify that specific part of male anatomy. Penis does not quite roll off the tongue as easily as other words that hint at the reality.
We seem to prefer using terms like family jewels or lady parts that euphemistically or indirectly refer to words that must remain unspoken.
I will take my lead from Harry Potter who ignored the admonition against speaking of He Who Must not be Named. For Harry, Voldemort did not remain unspoken. He claimed the power of the word when he spoke. I too am choosing to ignore the admonition against using unspoken words. I am choosing to claim their power.