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June 27, 2006
Like a Virgin
*The controversial and explicit subject matter may offend some readers. However I believe this is a valuable and noteworthy topic to discuss.
Once again, the ignorant mindset of society has left me fuming, especially when it involves the mistreatment of women. According to a current news article, muslim women in Europe are flocking to gynecologists to 'restore their virginity' by enduring hymen reconstruction surgery or purchasing fake medical documentation to reaffirm their purity. The virgin female is a glorified ideal in many cultures, so valuable that women risk physical harm or shame if they are discovered to be otherwise. While women are scrutinized and controlled under this supposed code of honor, men are conveniently exempted. Of course. The women who seek these medical treatments often pay dearly, emotionally and financially. Prices can range from $500 to over a $1000.
Contrary to popular belief, an intact hymen is not a fool-proof sign of a woman's virginity. Some girls are born without hymens. Otherwise, women tend to break them prior to sexual contact. Running, stretching, wearing a tampon, and other nonsexual activities are often the culprit, not promiscuity. And sometimes, a woman who still has this "coveted" little piece of skin does not experience bleeding or pain during their first experience. As you can see, this is truly a reliable method (sarcasm). In fact, I think that many of the individuals who believe in the 'hymen test' know it is an inaccurate measure of a woman's virginity. I believe this is just a control tactic, a subtle attempt to dominate women in the name of 'family honor' and god, to make them 'think twice' before doing anything liberating.
Above all, it angers me that a woman's value is based on her sexuality, not other far more worthy qualities. Intelligence, loyalty, kindness, to name a few; these qualities become irrelevant once you are discovered to not be a virgin on your wedding night. The double standards (found in all cultures) between men and women still shock me. While i don't advocate rampant promiscuity, I strongly believe that girls and women should feel comfortable with their sexuality and have the freedom to choose how and when they want to express it. Cultural tradition or not, the justification of any form of inequality should not be tolerated. A woman's body and actions are hers alone, not the public property of men and their corrupt social ideologies.
Click here to read the full article on MSNBC.
Posted by Kellie at June 27, 2006 12:46 AM