The Brazilian look is (still) in, and it's no mystery why - who isn't visually arrested by the appearance of a smooth, young-looking, oh-so-partially exposed derriere? I have no objection to a skimpy swimsuit or a barely-there bikini bottom, but I ask, Have we gone way too far with the female parts?

In this age of confusion over what's real and what really matters, where technology brings us imagery founded on fantasies, what has happened to women's confidence? Historically, images of women have been those of the objectified, ranging from something that's beautiful to look at but deserves no respect, to the adoration of the female nude in "high art."

In more recent decades, Georgia O'Keefe understated artistic representations of the female "privates" on a new, public level, a la Grey Line with Black, Blue and Yellow:

And in more recent, popular media...check out the Eye of Sauron, from Lord of the Rings (a "family "movie):

But, what does it mean when women - even those who haven't had children, or aren't even approaching middle age - are seriously considering vaginal rejuvenation?

Maybe it means we have created some crazy, unrealistic image of what a woman should look and feel like, and propagated it everywhere...on TV, on your computer, in the movies, in magazines. Porn has become not just an escape or a high, but some kind of alternate universe where adult women have no pubic hair.

(What is vaginal rejuvenation? Why, it's a simple nip-and-tuck of the labia! We can just pull those back, trim a little here and there, stitch them up tight, and feel 17 again!)

OK, seriously: This procedure could be a great gift to women. What could be more important than giving her a chance to experience pleasure as much as he does?

(At this moment, my personal feeling is that in no way would I ever want a sharp, surgical instrument anywhere near that area, unless it were absolutely, medically necessary. Sure, I reserve the right to eat my words in 10 years.)

...Back to the original, disturbing thought that young women, especially the young women of the western United States (where I happen to reside), are being brainwashed into feeling that they are possibly inadequate because they don't get a full (and I mean full) wax job, back, underside and front, at least every couple weeks.

Is it just me, or are we deeply ensconced in an historical moment of obsession with the bald vulva?

I was gratified and refreshed to see that Californication producer and star David Duchovny has his main character express disgust for the prepubescent look on adult women, with no shyness whatsoever.

I am the last one to be overly modest about the human form! I personally favor a direct approach, where we appreciate what we have and teach our children what bodies are really for - to be appreciated, not abused. But perhaps we could (dare I say) learn something from the French. In a recent sighting of a (friend's) French porn mag, I did note the extreme youth of the girls, but despite that, all of them were decidedly not prepubescent, judging by the healthy amount of hair present. And, they were all stunningly beautiful.

Meanwhile, thank goodness for the voices that share real female experiences with all of us, and encourage us to be confident and accepting of our bodies...like The Vagina Monologues, an insightful collection of monologues from women.

So why do we feel like we must slim down to a stick-like state, push up our boobs, and make sure the nether region is smooth as a baby's bottom? ...Even if it means ingrown hairs, sores (which, according to my gynecologist, are sometimes mistaken for herpes), and a big drain on the bank account?

What if we all just relaxed a little instead?