Florence Schechter

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

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

Early life and education

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

Vagina Museum

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

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 will be 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

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

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

Schechter identifies as bisexual.[37]

References
  1. "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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