Published by Down There Press , the nation's first independent publisher devoted to sexual health, Femalia is a cornerstone of the sex-positive movement. It rejects the notion that female genitalia must be a source of shame or a hidden "taboo". Instead, it frames the vulva as a unique anatomical feature, as distinct and varied as the human face.
The book is out of print from the original publisher, but used copies can sometimes be found via secondhand booksellers (e.g., AbeBooks, eBay). No authorized free PDF exists. Down There Press has since been absorbed into larger publishers, and rights have reverted in part to the estate of Joani Blank. Digital versions have not been officially released due to copyright and the cost of re-licensing the photographs.
The primary objective of the book was to combat the widespread lack of anatomical literacy and the societal shame often associated with female genitalia. At the time of its release, and indeed continuing today, many individuals—regardless of gender—have rarely seen a vulva outside of the context of pornography or medical diagrams.
Femalia is a groundbreaking photographic book first published in 1993 by Down There Press (an imprint of the sex-positive nonprofit Yes Press, founded by Joani Blank). The book contains a collection of close-up, full-color photographs of vulvas, contributed by a diverse range of women and photographed by several artists, most notably Tee Corinne, a pioneering lesbian feminist photographer known for her work celebrating female bodies.