There’s been heated debate over vagina whitening since feminine bleaching product Clean and Dry Intimate Wash hit the Indian market earlier this year. Now the issue has hit closer to home with the launch of Lactacyd White Intimate in Thailand. The Bangkok Post reported that Sanofi Aventis (Thailand), the French company behind the whitening feminine wash product “revealed that the value of the feminine wash product market in Thailand is growing by around 10-15% a year, and will reach THB500 million this year.” As a young woman who is active in all areas of life, I really don’t see what the big deal is. After all, anal bleaching has been around for ages and it’s not just for porn stars. If we can accept one sex organ getting the Michael Jackson color treatment, then why not vaginas too?
Maybe some people are simply bothered by the idea of women whitening their va-jay-jays because it reflects a lack of self-confidence. Bear in mind that Sanofi Aventis has allocated THB80 million on TV and radio commercials (see below) and marketing campaigns to persuade women across Thailand that their genitalia needs to be fixed and that perfection is just four weeks away. For those of you who think you have an ugly apparatus down below, let me remind you that they come in all colors, shapes and sizes!
Personally, I’m not opposed to women wanting to bleach their nether regions. Just make sure you know what the possible side effects are. As for bringing more excitement to your pussycat, there are loads of other options out there. You can always try waxing a thunder bolt butterfly the next time you visit a salon. That is, if you have any hair left from the last good-bye muff trend. Some of you may have lasered it off completely, in which case you may consider getting a “dirty tattoo.”
Are you wondering what men in Bangkok think about the whitening of privates? I managed to pose the question to some friends.
The first was my pseudo boyfriend who is a full-blooded Thai. His response to “What’s your take on vaginal whitening?” was “You don’t need it.” Aww… thanks babe! When I asked him how he viewed women doing it in general he said, “Stupid.” The man of few words may have a point, but I decided not to prod any further.
Another local Thai guy said, “Women should whiten their arses and their teeth. Not their pussies!”
Then I asked my British expat friend the same question and he said, “I think I would have to drop any girl that did [vaginal bleaching] for being such a moron.” From his response I initially thought he supported women being au naturel, but then he said this, “Now a boob job – that’s money better spent.” My response to that would take a whole other article so I won’t get into it here.
I also asked a male friend visiting from Australia who responded with, “It’s only a problem dependent on the woman. But most men would say ‘not necessary but welcomed.’ Cause if a girl is thinking about it maybe she needs it.”
Finally, I had to get the gay perspective from my Singaporean expat friend who said, “I think it’s great. Also ass bleaching. Just remember to research side effects.”
I couldn’t have put it better myself!
