Virginity check? WHY!!!

[Tairbear]

I have the YOUGOV survey app

And this morning I'm alarmed by this question... can anyone shed some light on why this service maybe needed? Under what circumstances? It's honestly floored me

[AishaD]

I cannot believe that in the 21st century, in one of the most civilised countries on earth, I still have to live in a society where almost 25% of the responders strongly support this... It's incredibly depressing 😢

[OneLinePlease]

Holy crap.

That's terrible. I feel naive not realising such a test existed.

I felt my hymen tear while climbing as a teen. Suspected that's what it was and check wiping with toilet paper and there was a tiny amount of blood and wasn't my period.

Makes my blood run cold to think of what some poor girls must be accused of - as I was very much a virgin for years after that. But my vagina would've failed a test.

[JustSay]

Terrible wording. Im surprised you're surprised this happens. In many cultures women and girls are killed for being a non virgin. Some are virgings with damaged or stretchy hymens some were raped. If clinics don't do it then female elders or midwifes/doulas would do it. It's absolute shite and degrading.

[JustSay]

Aisha there is a lot of ignorant white british men who are pro virginity and many asian and african people in the uk who, even if born in the uk, still carry out anf believe this shit. I am not surprised.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

@AishaD

I cannot believe that in the 21st century, in one of the most civilised countries on earth, I still have to live in a society where almost 25% of the responders strongly support this... It's incredibly depressing 😢

The 25% are in support of banning it, not doing it. The question and poll are badly worded.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

@endofthelinefinally

Exactly.
The test is offered to men so thst men can force women to take it.

Sadly. I’ve read many case briefs and it is just as frequently the grandmothers, mothers and aunts that are forcing these girls. They had it done to them and so think what was necessary for them is necessary for their younger female relatives. In some cultures the person carrying out the tests is a midwife or other female as well.

[HerLadySheep]

I think that question is appallingly worded, I had to read it three times to make sure I understood it correctly so I wouldn't set too much store by the responses on this occasion

[Scumble]

It is badly worded. I took the Yougov poll and didn't spot if it was worded like that. I've contacted them to say if their question did include the word 'ban', my answer was incorrect. I'm gutted - I strongly oppose virginity tests, not the banning of them.

[nepeta]

We are pedaling backwards on women's rights. I knew about this practice but I never thought it would be available in countries where it never was part of the culture or religion.
It's all about checking if the gift parcel has been opened before it is handed over. A woman's value is in her body and the value is higher when the body has not yet been used but is still very fresh.

Women as things.

[Floisme]

I remember reading in the mainstream media at the time (1981) that Lady Diana Spencer had to undergo a virginity test before her engagement to Prince Charles was announced. I noticed 'The Crown' sidestepped that story.

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

People should know that not every girl is born with a hymen and that a score of oridnary activities - horse-riding, gymnastics, athletics - can rupture them, not to mention tampon use.

In the families insisting that their daughters undergo these tests, it's unlikely that the girls would be allowed to take part in those sorts of activities. And tampons are complete no-no.

The whole thing is barbaric but sadly there are sections of our society where this is promoted.

[Toilenstripes]

Lady Diana underwent such an examination before her marriage to Prince Charles. I remember hearing about it and feeling queasy and embarrassed for her.

[Whatwouldscullydo]

In the families insisting that their daughters undergo these tests, it's unlikely that the girls would be allowed to take part in those sorts of activities. And tampons are complete no-no

Sounds am awful lot like deliberately holding your child back from opportunities in life and even allowing their education to be impacted ( heavy periods must be difficult to manage without the option of tampons and having to sit through 2 or 3 lessons at a time), In the hope they don't get a chance to know any better....

[slowmover]

I remember a couple whose families came from Tonga - after the wedding f they had to hold a sheet to show the women bled or something to prove it was the first time she had intercourse.. they doctored it somehow..
Elders inspected it..

But no one was shocked it was just a given.

I am surprised re Diana - surely not?

[PaleBlueMoonlight]

Just to say that there is a difference between opposing (or strongly opposing) a ban on virginity testing and thinking that virginity testing is ok.

You can think that virginity testing is abhorrent, but still not support a ban.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

"I'm being criticised because I'm willing to go above and beyond to protect mine," he said.

"And I'm talking about the slimy, grimy, chubby-fingered little boys who want to come in, defile and destroy the sanctity that I have as a man."

He's talking about his daughter!

Or is she his property?

His manhod? Sanctity - wtf!?!?!?!

And that's in his explanation of how the media sensationalised what he had said?

Gross!

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

@PaleBlueMoonlight

Just to say that there is a difference between opposing (or strongly opposing) a ban on virginity testing and thinking that virginity testing is ok.

You can think that virginity testing is abhorrent, but still not support a ban.

I would! Mainly because I read on and found the "hymen repair" surgery/kits to be so very fucking offensive!

It's just another form of control, with added New Age FGM thrown in for good measure!

[20shadesofgreen]

It should be banned but religious practices like this are too deeply embedded; if it was banned, it would be done in a non-clinical setting by non- qualified people, which would be even worse

I see this as an issue too but by the same rational you could set up FGM clinics, No?

I think it is better having a clear line in the sand in medical circles and penalties for those who ignore the ban and most importantly education. Just because something is a cultural norm doesn’t mean it can’t change. Usually the change is slow but the first part of the change is facing up to the issue.

[NonnyMouse1337]

This practice really should be banned, especially on the NHS. There shouldn't be any tiptoeing around 'communities' that engage or encourage such practices. It's abhorrent and backwards and unacceptable in 21st century UK. It should be viewed in the same light as forced marriages and FGM. Prosecutions for those who are found to provide such 'services'.

There shouldn't be two tiers of women in the UK - an underclass of (usually) migrant and ethnic minority women who are treated worse than the rest of us under the pathetic excuse of 'culture'. Either our laws apply equally to all, or it's pointless.

[StCharlotte]

@PaleBlueMoonlight

Just to say that there is a difference between opposing (or strongly opposing) a ban on virginity testing and thinking that virginity testing is ok.

You can think that virginity testing is abhorrent, but still not support a ban.

If you belive it's abhorrent, why would you NOT support a ban?

Not a rhetorical question.

[PaleBlueMoonlight]

I agree, it is difficult to understand why you might not think banning is not a good idea. I imagine because of the fear of pushing it underground and/or the difficulty of defining virginity testing in practice,but I don’t know. It isn’t a topic that I have thought much about. However, I do know that there is always another side and that legislators need to be alert to unintended consequences. Banning something is an incredibly blunt tool.

[Hailtomyteeth]

I have learned a lot on this thread. Really had no idea it was such big business. I'd ban. If there was such a thing as 'natural law' or 'natural morality' it would keep parents off their children's actual bodies, even by third party intervention.

I have a dd. I brought her up strictly (too strictly, she says) in the Christian faith and tradition. It didn't involve medical examinations.

[PearPickingPorky]

@EmmaGrundyForPM

People should know that not every girl is born with a hymen and that a score of oridnary activities - horse-riding, gymnastics, athletics - can rupture them, not to mention tampon use.

In the families insisting that their daughters undergo these tests, it's unlikely that the girls would be allowed to take part in those sorts of activities. And tampons are complete no-no.

The whole thing is barbaric but sadly there are sections of our society where this is promoted.

There are very large, possibly the majority, sections of society where virginity is promoted for girls, not just in muslim faith. While it may only be a small number of ultra-conservative religious people who are seeking these tests for women, it would be folly to think that they are the only ones where "virginity" of women and girls is fetishised.

Unfortunately, that is prevalent. And it's disgusting. It makes no difference if a woman or girl has had sex (or a tampon, her finger, ridden a horse, done gymnastics or any other kind of sport) before. We need to stop pretending that "virginity" is some kind of virtue for girls.

(Obviously we don't want under-16s having sex, but beyond that, we just need proper, accurate sex education, where women and girls are treated with respect and not taught that sex is about the male ego/ownership/pleasure/dominance).

[rainbowshelves]

England is no longer a civilised country is it.the fact this is not only illegal but their are people willing to make money from it says it all. Disgusting. It shouldn't have to be made illegal to stop it. But obviously it should already be illegal, what good can possibly come from this

[rainbowshelves]

Not only legal *