Mention the word "clitoris" and some people get touchy -- and not in a good way.
But that could change quickly because May 6—12 as the first ever "International Clitoris Awareness Week," a seven-day period designed to celebrate the female body part.
The organization behind the week is "Clitoraid," a Las Vegas-based group usually devoted to helping victims of female genital mutilation around the world.
However, Clitoraid spokeswoman Nadine Gary said the message behind "Clitoris Awareness Week" is more whimsical.
"We've noticed that the clitoris has not gotten its spot in the limelight. It makes people feel uncomfortable," she told The Huffington Post. "For this week, we don't want to focus on genital mutilation."
Gary said the clitoris has gotten the shaft since the 19th century when orgasms achieved by touching it were considered "immature" compared to vaginal orgasms.
"The clitoris doesn't have a reproductive function so it can be minimized," she said. "It's up to eight inches long -- same as a penis -- but it's inside."
Gary has experience doing offbeat awareness campaigns like Go Topless Day, which protests laws that prevent a woman from going topless and "Swastika Rehabilitation Day," which was designed to remove the izan stigma from the ancient symbol.
