A recent photo of 15-year-old Miley Cyrus appeared in Vanity Fair and caused some controversy. In the photo, Miley’s back and shoulders are bare, her hair is damp and a sheet covers her chest. In the accompanying article, Miley describes the photo as “really artsy,” and says, “It wasn’t in a skanky way.” But shortly after the issue hit newsstands, the 15-year-old star of Disney’s Hanna Montana came out and apologized for the photo.

Many of the girls that look up to Miley know her as squeaky-clean Hanna Montana. But this photo doesn’t match her G-rated TV persona. And looking at the photo, you might think that she’s nude in bed after just having had sex. Some people are upset and feel the photo sends the wrong message to her young fans.

But according to Vanity Fair, Miley and her parents “thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait.” She wasn’t naked during the shoot nor sitting up in a bed, and her parents were on the set.

Some people think this photo is no big deal, and they don’t understand the outrage. They argue that the photo of Miley reveals a lot less than some 15-year-olds do in their prom dresses or on their MySpace profiles.

Whether you’d call this photo “artistic” or “pornographic,” our culture sexualizes people—especially young women. And yet, we do an awful job of openly and honestly talking about something as natural and normal as sexuality. If we had real, honest and accurate talks with young people about sex and sexuality, would photos like this cause so much controversy?

Take a look at the cover of almost any popular women’s magazine. You’ll probably notice the bad sex tips, the list of ways to keep your man and even the awful dieting advice. Some of you also might notice a trend: using slang for sexual and reproductive body parts—like saying “va-jay-jay” instead of “vagina.”

For example, why can’t the March issue of Cosmo just have the word “vagina” printed on it? Instead, Cosmo refers to the “va-jay-jay.” Even the subtitle—“Fascinating New Facts about Your Lovely Lady Parts”—can’t spell out what the story is about. Using words like “va-jay-jay” and “lovely lady parts” makes the relationship between a woman and her body seem like it’s naughty—unspeakable.

Cosmo, why beat around the bush (no pun intended)? If you’re giving women information about their vaginas, just say “vaginas”!

Here’s a sex ed challenge: Say the word “vagina” instead of “va-jay-jay,” when you need to refer to the vagina. It feels good to say it and not be embarrassed. Now that’s a sign of a being a smart and confident woman.