Penises come in all shapes and sizes. Having a smaller-than-average dick doesn’t necessarily affect sex or health outcomes.
However, many Asian men are teased growing up for their small dicks. A study reviewing average erect penis lengths across 87 countries found that eight Southeast Asian nations fell near or below the global average.
Vaginal Anatomy
The anatomy of the female genital tract is quite complex. It consists of the vagina, which includes internal reproductive organs, and the vulva, which encloses external ones. The vulva begins at the cervix, which is a neck-like piece of tissue that connects the vagina to your uterus. It then opens as a hole outside your body called the vaginal opening. It’s here that a penis, finger, sex toy or tampon can be inserted during sexual intercourse and where period blood flows during menstruation.
Inside the vulva, there are two long, hairless folds of skin called labia majora, which look like large lips. The labia majora enclose and protect the vulva vestibule, clitoris, urethral meatus and vaginal opening. The labia minora, which are more similar in shape to the scrotum of males, lie between the labia majora.
The clitoris is a long, tube-like structure that extends from the vulva vestibule and inserts into the urethra. It acts in the transport of sperm and in sexual intercourse. There is a glans on the tip of the clitoris (called the clitoral glans) and another that surrounds the urethra (called the periurethral glans). The genitals also contain pea-sized glands called Bartholin’s glands, which secrete a mucus that helps decrease friction during sexual intercourse and moisturizes the vulva.
Erectile Function
Despite the stereotype that Asian men have small penises, many of them are just as big as other dudes. In fact, one study found that the average length of a flaccid penis is 3.61 inches. When erect, that figure rises to between 5.5 and 6 inches.
The penis is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which has two parts — the sympathetic division tends to restrict penile blood flow and closes the bladder neck to prevent urine leakage during sex; the parasympathetic division increases penile blood flow and stimulates erections. The coordination of these systems is critical to sexual response.
When a man is erect, the cavernous nerves send signals to expand the three cylinders of the erectile tissue within the penis, lengthening and enlarging it. These muscles compress the spongy tissue’s small veins, which also reduces outflow of blood. In addition, the prostate relaxes, and fluid from the urethra flows through a tube called the ductus deferens into the penis.
In her memoir, Huang writes about how she is fucked by friends and strangers at rates that make her feel like “a human urinal.” She claims that her experience in racially diverse San Francisco has taught her that when it comes to dick size, race is irrelevant. But she’s not satisfied with merely debunking the myth. She wants to take it on head-on, calling for an Asian Invasion of dicks that can match the phallic might of Steven Yeun’s in The Walking Dead and Huang’s own in Fresh Off the Boat.
Erectile Dysfunction
The male genital tract is complex, and normal erections can be affected by problems with blood flow, nerves, hormone levels, and more. Often, however, the cause of erectile dysfunction is not clear. It can be a symptom of other health conditions, like heart disease or diabetes. It can also be a result of certain medications, such as antidepressants or steroids. In some cases, it can be caused by emotional stress or anxiety.
While it’s true that Asian men generally have smaller penises than their Western counterparts, that doesn’t mean they are small enough to experience erectile dysfunction. In a recent study, Hong Kong researchers measured the penises of 148 Chinese men and found that their flaccid dicks were 3.4 inches long—just as long as the average length of men in other countries around the world.
Nevertheless, the myth that Asian men have small penises is still prevalent in popular culture. It hurts young Asian men in the West who are attempting to forge their sexual identities in the face of a host of other demeaning stereotypes. It also deprives them of the opportunity to seek medical help for a problem that can be treated. It is important for a man to discuss erectile problems with his doctor, even if he feels embarrassed or ashamed about the issue. Seeking treatment sooner rather than later can help him avoid the escalating effects of his condition and improve the quality of his life.
Genetics
Compared to the genitals of African ancestors, men from East Asia are shorter and have smaller penises. This is because, on average, Asians are naturally smaller people. However, it is unfair to hold East Asians up to white people standards when it comes to penis size, especially because a man’s penis shouldn’t define his masculinity.
It’s not just East Asians who are mistreated for having small penises. Black men are also subjected to the same stereotype, and so are biracial people like Serena Williams. These racial-based stereotypes arise from a broader premise that positions white body parts as the norm, so other bodies are policed against this ideal. For example, Sarah Baartman, the Hottentot Venus, was exhibited in 19th century freak shows for having “wild and savage” genitalia.
Research suggests that, in the animal kingdom, male genitalia are under precopulatory sexual selection for characteristics that increase a male’s relative fertilization success. For instance, larger testicles and penises allow a male to penetrate deeper into the female and produce more sperm, both of which are essential for successful conception. These features are not just under selection in post-copulatory sexual behavior, but may also play a role in precopulatory female mate choice.