The impact of social media on female genital self-image

By offering a historical analysis that moves from the early modern period to the present, this essay examines the various factors that have shaped female genital self-image (FGSI) and sexual attitudes. Four main categories are identified as being particularly influential.

The review aims to improve doctors' understanding of the impact of social media on FGSI thereby promoting a comprehensive and holistic approach.

A comprehensive search technique was used to obtain research papers from the following databases: PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science. Google Scholar was also manually searched. The search results were imported into Rayyan reference management and assessed using the established inclusion criteria. The quality of the articles was assessed using the appropriate JBI checklist (ie, according to the study design), and the JBI grades of recommendation were used to grade the evidence.

First, the review considers anatomical texts to determine how cultural beliefs about the female capacity for sexual enjoyment influenced perceptions of the female genitals as early as the 17th century. Next, the review engages with medical discourses-ranging from the scientific to the social-to establish 19th-century attitudes toward the connection between female genital anatomy and psychological state. Third, the review explores the application of psychoanalytic theory to uncover the internalization of societal norms in the construction of a similarly negative genital self-image in the early- to mid-20th century. Fourth, the review provides insights from the sexual liberation movement, with a particular focus on the importance of communication in the enhancement of female self-image.

In conclusion, there is an association between increased time spent on social media platforms and heightened FGSI, alongside its interacting effect on multiple areas of self-perception and functioning in women.