Is Virginity Really A Thing? Can It Be Proven?

Virginity is mostly referred to as the abstinence of penetrative sex, and it has become a topic that is tilted mostly to the female gender.Most people grow with the idea that the value of a person is tied to their virginity. But the big question remains: Is virginity really a thing? The truth is, virginity is not a medical fact.It has become a social construct that is sometimes deep in religion, and has different meanings to different people.With some cultures placing the value of a woman based on her virginity status, it has become a purity culture that controls women’s sexualities, and teaches fear. Now, can a woman’s virginity be proven?Virginity testing is a practice that examines the genitals to check if a woman has had vaginal sex or not.Some people argue that an “intact” (imperforate) hymen is what determines a woman’s virginity.That comes from the belief that the hymen tears and bleeds at first penetration of the vagina. The hymen is an elastic tissue surrounding the entrance of the vagina that can repair itself after an injury, and it is different in every woman in terms of shape, thickness and appearance.Although rare, some women do not have hymens, and others can have theirs injured from other physical activities, like insertion of objects and surgical procedures. It will interest you to know that the World Health Organization classifies virginity testing as a form of human rights violation.  This test is sometimes carried out on females without their consent or on people who cannot give consent. It is usually done for the benefit of others, and not the females in question.Virginity testing has encouraged gender based discrimination, especially on women who do not “pass” the test, such as shaming, dowry and bride price reduction, and murder in certain cases. These false ideas persist because of a lack of the right education. What then can we do to change this concept? - Educate people (adolescents, teenagers and adults) that sex is not a dirty act, but it always has to be consensual. - Every party has to say YES, and agree to engage. If per adventure they have a change of mind, the act should stop immediately.- Terms like “losing or giving virginity”, should be used carefully.- Switch virginity talk with sexual education based on respect and communication, to help prevent sexually transmitted infections. It is also important to note that sexuality is not a one way thing. It can be expressed in different ways, and not just vaginal sex.The earlier we educate people on these things, the better we raise respectful and open members of a society. Now, I would like to hear from you: What idea did you grow up with about virginity? Has anything changed over the years?Do you also feel a woman’s value is tied to her virginity status?