Full Picture, Full Power: The Role of Context in Health Literacy

Understanding female anatomy shouldn’t be a mystery—but for many people, it still is.

As a medical illustrator, I’ve seen how much confusion and discomfort exists around the vulva, vagina, and uterus—often because diagrams are incomplete, censored, or overly clinical. At a recent reproductive justice art show, I was reminded just how powerful a full, clear illustration can be—not just for students or doctors, but for everyone. In this post, I’m sharing why context matters in medical illustration, how it impacts health literacy, and why I’m committed to showing the full picture, not just the sanitized parts.

I was showing my maternity lookbooks at the Reproductive Justice Art Show hosted by the WRAC. I was one of the curators and also an exhibiting artist. The show coincided with a reproductive justice symposium and a series of workshops. During one of the breaks, a group of attendees wandered into the gallery, flipping through pages and asking questions.

One visitor—a med student on her way to becoming an obstetric anesthesiologist—came up to me and said, “I love how you included the external anatomy. You showed the full structure, not just the inside.”

“I didn’t realize how important that context was until now.”

That moment stuck with me. I’ve always believed that context matters, but hearing it from someone who works directly with patients reinforced what I already knew. So much gets lost when we only show part of the picture.

Misconceptions We Carry (Sometimes All Our Lives)

Let’s clear up a few things that often go unspoken or misunderstood:

• The vulva is the external anatomy. The vagina is the canal. They are not interchangeable.
• The clitoris extends deep inside the body. It’s not just the visible tip.
• The uterus is not floating somewhere. It’s supported by ligaments and muscles and connects to the cervix, which leads to the vaginal canal.
• Many people don’t know where the cervix is, or even what it does.

These gaps in knowledge aren’t just among patients. They show up in textbooks, casual conversations, and even in clinical care. People can live their entire lives in a body they don’t fully understand.

We Need the Whole Story

When it comes to learning—especially about the body—context is everything.

Medical students get repeated exposure. They study cadavers, analyze cross-sections, and ask instructors to clarify what they don’t understand. They’re trained to imagine the body in layers, from skin to organ.

But patients don’t get that kind of access. Maybe they had a biology course back in high school, twenty or thirty years ago. And even then, the diagrams might not have looked like them. Maybe they were missing context. Maybe they were censored. Maybe they were skipped altogether.

Patients need context too. They deserve to see accurate, clear, inclusive information so they can understand their own bodies.

Illustration plays a huge role in that. It boosts health literacy. It reduces fear. It builds confidence, improves communication, and encourages collaboration between patients and providers. When people understand what’s happening in their bodies, they’re more likely to speak up, ask questions, and follow through on care.

Why I Refuse to Censor This Work

The human body has been overly sexualized, and illustrations of sex organs are often censored. External anatomy is removed or blurred because it’s considered inappropriate, but these are just bodies. We all have one.

Those external structures aren’t shameful. They’re functional, beautiful, and essential to our health. They can be the first sign that something’s wrong. Pain, swelling, discoloration, discharge—these are signals. If someone doesn’t know what’s normal, how will they know when something’s not?

It’s frustrating to be asked to leave out vital information in the name of modesty. This creates gaps on purpose and hides clarity, which is the opposite of what patients need.

That’s why I illustrate complete anatomy, inside and out. I include diversity, detail, and context because people deserve the truth about their bodies—without shame, censorship, and fear.

This Is Why I Illustrate

I illustrate with the whole picture in mind. I show how internal and external structures connect, and I do it with care, accuracy, and intention. When people can see themselves, they can understand themselves. That leads to better questions, stronger advocacy, and more confident decision-making.

And maybe, for the first time, they begin to feel at home in their own body.

Know Your Body. Share the Full Picture.

If you’re a patient: get to know your anatomy. It’s your body. You deserve to understand how it works, what’s normal for you, and how to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

If you’re an illustrator or educator: share accurate, uncensored information. Representation matters. Clarity matters. Don’t leave things out for the sake of comfort. People are ready.

And if you believe in this mission—whether you’re in medicine, public health, or education—and you want to collaborate or incorporate this kind of illustration into your work, I’d love to work with you.

Visit my portfolio to see more illustrations, resources, and get in touch.

Let’s normalize bodies. Let’s prioritize education.

Let’s give people the full picture.