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Florence Schechter

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Florence Schechter
Schechter in 2019
NationalityBritish
EducationBiochemistry BSc, 2014
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham
Occupation(s)Museum Director, Author, Public Speaker
EmployerVagina Museum
Websitewww.floschechter.com

Florence Schechter is the founder of the Vagina Museum.[1] She is also a consultant, science communicator, comedian and public speaker.[2] Her debut book, "V: An Empowering Celebration of the Vulva and Vagina", was published by Penguin Random House in March 2023.[3]

Early life and education

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Schechter graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2014 with a BSc in Biochemistry.[4]

Vagina Museum

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In 2017, Schechter founded the Vagina Museum[5] after discovering that there was a penis museum in Iceland, but no vagina equivalent anywhere in the world.[6] She is the Vagina Museum's current Director.[1] The first ever fundraising event was held at Unit 5 Gallery, London in May 2017.[7] The first pop up exhibition was held in August 2017 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The following year, it toured an exhibition around the UK called "Is Your Vagina Normal?".[8]

The Vagina Museum opened its first semi-permanent location in Camden Market with the inaugural exhibition "Muff Busters: Vagina Myths And How To Fight Them"[9] opening on 16 November 2019.[10][11] To open the museum, a fundraising campaign was held which raised almost £50,000.[12] In 2021, the Vagina Museum closed its doors in Camden Market after the landlords refused to renew the lease in their unit.[13][14][15] The Vagina Museum reopened in its second location in March 2022[16][17] in ENTER, a venue located in Bethnal Green.[18]

The museum is dedicated to being trans-inclusive.[19]

Schechter has spoken at events and lectured around the UK about her work with the Vagina Museum, including the Royal Institution,[20] British Science Festival,[21] Conway Hall,[22] and National Student Pride.[23]

Writing

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On 11 October 2022, it was announced that Penguin would be publishing Schechter's debut book V: An Empowering Celebration of the Vulva and Vagina.[24] The book was published in March 2023. The book is suitable for ages 14+.

Schechter is currently signed with United Agents.[25]

She has also written articles for a number of publications including DIVA Magazine,[26] Metro,[27] and The Huffington Post.[28]

Comedy

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Schechter has been performing comedy since 2016, mostly based around science and biology.[29] She performed her debut hour "Queer By Nature" at Vaults Festival in 2019,[30] all about same sex sexual behaviour in animals.[31][32]

Honours and awards

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Schechter came highly commended in the Women of the Future Awards in 2017.[33] In 2019, she won Pioneer of the Year in the Sexual Freedom Awards.[34] In 2020, she was nominated for the Rising Star of the Year Award with DIVA Magazine.[35] In 2023, she came highly commended in the Young Entrepreneur Category at the DIVA awards.[36]

Personal life

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Schechter identifies as bisexual.[37]

References

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  1. ^ a b "People". Vagina Museum. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  2. ^ "Inside the World's First Museum Dedicated to the Vagina". Time. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  3. ^ "Florence Schechter". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  4. ^ "Schechter, Florence". Johnson & Alcock. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  5. ^ "Vaginas deserve their own museum according to this woman". The Independent. 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  6. ^ "Meet Florence Schechter, founder of Vagina Museum". Tatty Devine. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  7. ^ Spencer, Hayley (2017-04-25). "This woman is crowd-funding to create the world's first vagina museum". Stylist. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  8. ^ Amsen, Eva. "The World's First Vagina Museum Encourages Conversation Around Gynecological Health". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  9. ^ Luckhurst, Phoebe (2019-11-12). "Why the world needs its first bricks-and-mortar Vagina Museum". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  10. ^ Wadia, Zoe Paskett, Helena (2019-11-16). "Everything you need to know about the Vagina Museum". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2022-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "World's First Vagina Museum Tackles FGM, Sexual Health, and More". Global Citizen (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  12. ^ "Vagina museum in London aims to 'banish shame'". BBC News. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  13. ^ Patterson, Sally (2022-02-23). "Opening: Vagina Museum moves to Bethnal Green". Hampstead Highgate Express. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  14. ^ "The World's Only Vagina Museum Is Closing Its Doors". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  15. ^ "'Outpouring of support' as Vagina Museum seeks new home". Museums Association. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  16. ^ "Vagina Museum finds new home after six month search". www.civilsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  17. ^ "London's Vagina Museum set to reopen its doors after six months". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  18. ^ ENTER, Image; ENTER, the new location for The Vagina Museum © (2022-02-21). "Vagina Museum reveals new 'triple size' location and reopening date". Museums + Heritage Advisor. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  19. ^ Wakefield, Lily (2022-03-19). "Founder of world's first Vagina Museum explains why it's for everyone". PinkNews. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  20. ^ "Valentine's Day vaginas | Royal Institution". www.rigb.org. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  21. ^ "Dispelling Five Myths About 'Normal' Vaginas". HuffPost UK. 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  22. ^ "Thinking on Sunday: Why the World Needs A Vagina Museum". Conway Hall. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  23. ^ LBTQ+ Women's Panel | National Student Pride 2021, retrieved 2022-10-11
  24. ^ "Penguin to publish 'ground-breaking' book by Vagina Museum creator Schechter". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  25. ^ "Florence Schechter | United Agents". www.unitedagents.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  26. ^ EDITOR (2023-03-01). "This week's podDIVA is a March issue debrief". diva-magazine.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  27. ^ Schechter, Florence (2020-01-30). "I'm not surprised women turn to The Goop Lab for advice - it could be dangerous". Metro. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  28. ^ "Dispelling Five Myths About 'Normal' Vaginas". HuffPost UK. 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  29. ^ Steve_X (2016-06-14). "SCIENCE SHOWOFF Croydon Comedy Festival, June 23rd". Science Showoff. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  30. ^ Team, Editorial (2019-02-25). "REVIEW: Queer By Nature at VAULT Festival". diva-magazine.com. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  31. ^ "Book Queer By Nature Tickets Online - Comedy Tickets - Seating plan, Show times, Reviews, Cast & Info - London Theatre". Stagedoor. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  32. ^ Queer By Nature, Vaults, 20 Feb 2019, retrieved 2022-10-25
  33. ^ "Florence Schechter | Author". Chemistry World. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  34. ^ "2019 Finalists". Sexual Freedom Awards. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  35. ^ @DIVAmagazine (February 22, 2020). "Founder of the world's first vagina museum @floschechter is on the shortlist for the #DIVAAwards20 Rising Star of the Year Award!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-10-11 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "SHORTLIST 2023". Diva Awards 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  37. ^ EDITOR (2019-11-18). "What's it like to be… Director of the world's first vagina museum?". diva-magazine.com. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
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