Why do authors seem to treat it as a requirement to use the word "pussy" instead of vagina, vulva, or just genitals?

[SixPathsKeyblader]

I've been curious about something regarding many erotica stories. For some reason, many stories and authors tend to write it out as if it were a strict requirement to use certain slang words for genitalia (e.g. pussy) rather than the proper words for them. Even characters within the story will actively comment on this.

For example, the character of Beth Finch in one of the Naked in School stories once quoted something along the lines of...

"My p - pussy... See, I can say the word..."

She was clearly struggling to say the word because it's obviously not a term that she would have previously used (she was a more "proper" type of girl). Yet, for some reason, she forces herself to say it as if it were a requirement to use this term instead of vagina.

Similarly, in a different story, a younger boy asked the older boy in the room about the genitals of the naked girl that was in the room. The older boy then responded with something like this:

"Well, the actual name for it is the vagina or the vulva, but you can call it a pussy or a coochie..."

The younger boy then decided on coochie because he liked the word.

I have seen this kind of thing in many stories, and I am just wondering...Why?

I mean, I'm not mad about it or anything, but I don't understand the need to emphasize the slang and/or vulgar language. Does "vagina" not arouse as much or something like that?

For me, I actually prefer vagina over any of the slang terms. The sentences:

"Abbie was forced to go to school naked. She nearly passed out while giving her presentation as the whole school stared at her vagina."

That sentence entices me way more than the same sentence, but with the word vagina replaced with the word pussy.

What do you guys think about this?

[Dormouse]

Well, technically, remembering my O-level biology from many years ago, the vagina is the sheath from the vulva to the womb, the vulva is the external visible part. (Well, OK, visible vulvas are not that common in the street.) For some, the term vulva is too formal, whereas pussy is more what someone would say. There are other casual terms. I remember a sitcom on TV a few years ago where characters came up with a whole slew of words for it.

[Freesub]

Depends on what you're going for

Vagina feels like a formal word to some extent, whereas pussy feels like a crass , dirty way to describe it, which contributes to a girl's embarassment

[Lefanto]

To some degree, the context matters. but words like "vulva", "vagina", "penis", "phallus", "testicles" etc. may sound a bit medical and formal.

[Dormouse]

To some degree, the context matters. but words like "vulva", "vagina", "penis", "phallus", "testicles" etc. may sound a bit medical and formal.

I am reminded of a discussion on language I read a few years ago. An American living in the UK went to the doctor. He said to the doctor that he had a strabismus and the doctor replied, "Yes, you have a squint." He felt insulted by this. Strabismus is the medical term, but not much used in normal conversation in the UK. However, in the US, squint just meant screwing up one's eyes against the light, not the same as a strabismus, and he felt the doctor was talking down to him

[RaccoonBatteryStaple]

Depends on what you're going for

Vagina feels like a formal word to some extent, whereas pussy feels like a crass , dirty way to describe it, which contributes to a girl's embarassment

At the very least it has a "naughty" connotation to it so it makes sense to me to use slang terms in embarrassing situations. This also provides for a nice continuum depending on the mood: I've seen "kitty" used to convey immaturity, or "cunt" when being particularly vulgar.

It also highlights how male and female genitals are talked about in practice, which others have mentioned. Generally the word penis is accepted to refer to both the head, shaft, and foreskin where applicable and few stories linger on the male pubic mound. The word vagina is more tenuous -- I think the general application covers the vagina and the inner labia but not necessarily the outer labia and almost never including the clitoris, clitoral hood, or pubic mound, whereas pussy seems inclusive from the mound immediately surrounding the outer labia inward which makes things much less complicated!

I've had a partner who practically always used the proper terms when talking health or body issues, but almost always used slang when we were in bed.

[jastes22]

I actually wrote a story about a pre-med student who gets stripped by her friends. At first she always used "vagina" but as she lost more clothes, it turned to "pussy" as she got more and more embarrassed, so it was a way to show the change in the character's state of mind..

[Dormouse]

I actually wrote a story about a pre-med student who gets stripped by her friends. At first she always used "vagina" but as she lost more clothes, it turned to "pussy" as she got more and more embarrassed, so it was a way to show the change in the character's state of mind..

I am reminded of a clip from a recent film that got posted recently.

Two middle-aged women are walking along when they confront a naked young woman shouting, "Vagina, vagina."

"Why are you naked?" one of them asks.

"I'm looking for the pussy. It's called vagina."

"Yes, I go to the gynaecologist, I know that. It's actually called the vulva."

At which point, a young man arrives wearing only a towel, which he removes and gives to the naked woman.

Can't remember the name of the film, but it was recent.

[RaccoonBatteryStaple]

Similarly, in a different story, a younger boy asked the older boy in the room about the genitals of the naked girl that was in the room. The older boy then responded with something like this:

"Well, the actual name for it is the vagina or the vulva, but you can call it a pussy or a coochie..."

The younger boy then decided on coochie because he liked the word.

I have seen this kind of thing in many stories, and I am just wondering...Why?

I'd like to also add, for a native English speaker "vagina" in particular is a little awkward to say. It's three syllables with a kind of awkward vocal pause in transition between them so it does not roll off the tongue (add your own joke here) and there aren't many other frequently used words constructed that way or that begin with "vuh" like that.

Conversely, virtually everyone learns the word "pee" from a very young age and "penis" is closely related in sound and easy to connect mentally.

In my mind that makes it attractive to swap vagina for a two-syllable slang word that people find easier to say.

[PantsDownFun]

To some degree, the context matters. but words like "vulva", "vagina", "penis", "phallus", "testicles" etc. may sound a bit medical and formal.

Depending on context, sounding a bit medical could be a feature and not a bug (especially if the setting is a medical office).