Advertisement

Teacher sacked over ‘designer’ vagina

A teaching assistant has branded a school sexist after they suspended her for talking about a women's health issue in a glossy mag.

Kimberley Hanson, 37, received her suspension letter on Saturday following an interview with Closer magazine about the 'designer vagina' treatment she received for stress incontinence and damage from childbirth.

"The procedure is done at a clinic - it's a medical treatment,” Kimberly said.

"It's made a huge difference and I'm able to enjoy a better quality of life now and play with my kids.

"I thought it would be quite a positive thing to talk about actually and I didn't think my job would even come into play because it's an article about my personal life and health.”

The mum of four, from Cheshire, had the two laser treatments, often terms 'vagina facials' to help 'tighten everything up' and prevent urinary incontinence when she played on the trampoline with her young children.

Mum Kimberley needed a 'vagina facial' for medical reasons. Photo: Caters News
Mum Kimberley needed a 'vagina facial' for medical reasons. Photo: Caters News

She has now been suspended and is awaiting a meeting with her employer but claims she feels 'a bit awkward' about facing them.

The male principal of St Clement's Catholic Primary School, Cheshire, where she works allegedly claimed he was 'shocked and disgusted'.

In an email sent to Kimberley on Saturday, the school principal wrote: 'Dear Kim, following the publicity this week around your Closer article and subsequent press coverage, I am suspending you from work with immediate effect.'

In the school's Code of Conduct which is given to all new employees, there is no clause about talking to the media but there is guidance on social media usage.

"Now I'm absolutely devastated because I love my job. It's a lovely school and the children are lovely. I'm utterly devastated,” she said.

"It was a medical procedure. The headline was for the shock value.

"I spent half the night in tears when the principal called me, then I got angry because he made me feel like I'd done something wrong.

"I don't think it would be the same if a man was speaking about a vasectomy."

She had opened up about the procedure in a magazine interview. Photo: Caters News
She had opened up about the procedure in a magazine interview. Photo: Caters News

While her quality of life was improved by the ground-breaking treatment, which only recently reached the UK, she now feels shattered by her suspension.

"I had two treatments and will be getting a third as part of a deal. It's brilliant now but it'll be absolutely amazing after the last one,” she explained.

"The treatment involves a laser being inserted like a smear. There is a cage that they put the laser in and zap inside and outside.

"After childbirth, everything was a bit damaged. The outer lips have become smaller and everything looks prettier now too. It's helped to tighten everything up.”

The original article was published in Closer magazine on Tuesday, January 16, and Kimberley claims it wasn't until Thursday night that she was called by the school's principal to say he had read the article.

Kimberly was suffering incontinence issues after having four children. Photo: Caters News
Kimberly was suffering incontinence issues after having four children. Photo: Caters News

She is now disappointed that her attempts to raise awareness of the health issue, which affects 200 million people worldwide, has potentially lost her a job she adored.

"In the interview for Closer I didn't even mention the name of the school but it's out there now because they've faced so much backlash,” she said.

"He left me a voicemail on Thursday night and sent a text. I rang him and he said he'd read the article and he thinks it's going to affect the school in a massive way and it's made me look bad.

"He said there and then 'I don't want you to come into work tomorrow. I'm going to suspend you on full pay'. The way I was spoken to on the phone was horrible.”

On a post on Facebook, The Women's Health Clinic wrote: "No-one should be treated badly for speaking out about their own medical issues.

"We believe if women had more information about their bodies and what is 'normal' then this type of information would not be taboo in the first place."

A Diocese of Shrewsbury spokesman said: "The Diocese of Shrewsbury can confirm that a member of the teaching staff of St Clement's Catholic Primary School in Runcorn has been suspended pending an investigation by the governing body into an interview the person gave to a national publication.

"The suspension is a neutral act to allow due process. The investigation has yet to be concluded so it would be premature at this point to speculate on its outcome."

With additional reporting by Caters News.

Got a story tip? Send it to tips@yahoo7.com.au

Want more celebrity, entertainment and lifestyle news? Follow Be on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram