Table of contents:
- What is virginity?
- Myths surrounding virginity testing
- 1. The hymen
- 2. Vaginal bleeding
- 3. Female sexual arousal
Indonesia was shocked by the virginity test for prospective members of the police and armed forces. Society is still very much adhering to the principle that an unmarried woman should still be a virgin. Not only for prospective members of the police and armed forces, even people in general have great anxiety and worry about a person's virginity. Because of this excessive anxiety, rooted in the myth that virginity can be tested medically, namely through the hymen.
From this belief, various other myths about virginity have emerged. Society is so aggressively looking for various ways to prove whether a woman is still a virgin. Then what about virginity from a scientific perspective? Is it true that other people can test a woman's virginity based on certain characteristics? Check out the answer below.
What is virginity?
Virginity is a social concept and norm, not a medical condition. Therefore, the meaning of virginity is certainly different for each person. There is no specific definition that describes what virginity is. However, in general, a virgin is a woman who has never had sexual relations with another person.
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The meaning of sexual intercourse itself can vary. Some think that sex occurs when there is penetration by the penis in the vagina. However, there are also those who believe that activities such as masturbation, fingerings (inserting a finger into the vagina for sexual stimulation), and petting (rubbing the genitals against each other) is also sexual intercourse.
Because the meaning of virginity is ambiguous and contextual, no one can test a woman's virginity. Virginity can only be known by you. Not even a doctor or health worker can determine if a person is a virgin.
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Myths surrounding virginity testing
There are no physical signs that others can see whether a woman has had sexual relations. Therefore, there is no way to test one's virginity. However, because society is so obsessed with virginity, various myths about virginity testing have emerged.
Although it may sound convincing at first glance, there is no scientific basis that can justify these myths. You must have heard about the myths below, right?
1. The hymen
Many people believe that virginity can be seen from whether a person's hymen is still intact. This is why people believe a test to test for virginity is possible and necessary. In fact, the hymen cannot be used as a measure of virginity.
The hymen is a thin, flexible layer that protects the vaginal opening from the inside. This layer has a variety of shapes. Most of the hymen has a hole in the middle. This allows the discharge of blood during menstruation. However, there are also women whose hymen only has a hole that is so small that it is prone to tears. This hymen can tear at any time, for example when exercising, riding a bicycle, dancing, falling, having sex, and many other possibilities. Having sex isn't the only reason a woman's hymen is torn.
Women who have had sex may still have their hymen intact. This is because some women have a very strong hymen or the opening is large enough so that the penis can enter without tearing the lining. Tampons can also enter the vagina without damaging the hymen.
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Because every woman has a hymen that is different in nature and shape, there is no particular way to test a woman's virginity just from looking at the hymen. A torn hymen is usually marked by cracked skin marks around the vaginal opening without a membrane. However, just like injuring any surface of the skin all over your body, the hymen tears before sex is normal and nothing to worry about. A torn hymen also has no effect on a person's general and sexual health.
2. Vaginal bleeding
This myth is rooted in a similar belief, that virginity can be tested by looking at the hymen. One of the symptoms of a torn hymen is bleeding in the vaginal area. So, people come to believe that every woman should experience bleeding during her first sex.
In fact, a torn hymen doesn't always cause bleeding. Or sometimes the bleeding that occurs is so light that you don't realize it at all. Remember, some women have a hymen that is so thin that the damage is not so severe that it causes bleeding. Meanwhile, there is a thick hymen so that the damage can cause bleeding. Therefore, it is not true that a person who is a virgin will experience bleeding when she first has sex.
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3. Female sexual arousal
If a woman has an orgasm, vaginal wetness, or excitement the first time she has sex, that doesn't mean she has "experience" or has had sex before. The myth that women who are excited or reach orgasm the first time they have sex are no longer virgins departs from traditional beliefs. It is taboo in society if a woman has sexual arousal when she is a virgin. A woman should not know or enjoy sex like a man.
This is of course a big mistake. Everyone, whether female or male, has the same sexual awareness and passion. This sexual awareness can begin at any age. There is a sexual awareness that appears during puberty, but there are also those who only appear in adulthood. Even some people already have sexual arousal in elementary school age.
Having extensive sexual knowledge also does not mean that a person is no longer a virgin. However, so far society has often mistakenly and gave a negative label to women who do not cover up their sexuality. So, don't be mistaken and think a woman's sexual arousal is something that should be covered up because it can be used to test her virginity. Only the woman herself can interpret and ensure her virginity.
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