VIRGINITY AND AFRICA HUMILIATION
Virginity has been generally and well known as a state of being virgin, maidenhood or maidhood. However, a virgin is someone who has never had sex (in people's general submission), on the other way round, a virgin is someone who posses hymen (a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening).
Since time immemorial, virginity has been highly honoured and valued, most especially in environments where cultures and religions forbid pre-marital sex, Africa stands a good example. For some centuries ago, women who belong to such environments had to prove their virginity to the people by showing her bleeding sample on their wedding night and perhaps their first marital intercourse through a white sheet stained with blood coming from the virginal due to the opening of the hymen with dangling carrot. This stained sheet would be shown to the husband's family. If the new wife was unable to show a blood stained sheet this night, the consequence was never a smiling one for them, she would be humiliated and her family inclusive.
However, in fear of this humiliation, women who are not virgins opted to travel a long way to protect their personality and ensures bleeding. They indulge in several technics to safe their face before the husband's family. Sometimes their husbands accepted to show a readily prepared stained sheet. Although, it contradicts law of culture but they did so for love. Such case is always rare in the traditional Africa history.
Nevertheless, in the contemporary time where civilization has a great influence on cultures, this tradition was however put a stop to and it became outdated under the influence of human right. Hence, women virginity became something secret and undisclose like it used to be. This is good enough as it gives respect to women folks as a person who deserves some honour like men. Has any man been queried of his virginity status? Why should this case be for women alone, is this culture not gender biased?
In return of the outdated tradition on virginty comes in this contemporary time a popular saying; "virginity is dignity". I do not detest this fact but I'm always left with mixed thoughts about this statement and some rhetorical questions. what would be the case of someone born without hymen? What of those who lost theirs due to stress? Or she lost it ignorantly and innocently. Is the dignity gone?
A point worthy to note is that dignity encompasses many things, virginity inclusive. However, it would be more unbiased and considerate if virginity is regarded as a part of dignity and not dignity as a whole. There are so many things attached to womanhood, so virginity alone should not be considered as the dignity they posses. It many time gives room for men to mock the women folks.
Virginity has been generally and well known as a state of being virgin, maidenhood or maidhood. However, a virgin is someone who has never had sex (in people's general submission), on the other way round, a virgin is someone who posses hymen (a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening).
Since time immemorial, virginity has been highly honoured and valued, most especially in environments where cultures and religions forbid pre-marital sex, Africa stands a good example. For some centuries ago, women who belong to such environments had to prove their virginity to the people by showing her bleeding sample on their wedding night and perhaps their first marital intercourse through a white sheet stained with blood coming from the virginal due to the opening of the hymen with dangling carrot. This stained sheet would be shown to the husband's family. If the new wife was unable to show a blood stained sheet this night, the consequence was never a smiling one for them, she would be humiliated and her family inclusive.
However, in fear of this humiliation, women who are not virgins opted to travel a long way to protect their personality and ensures bleeding. They indulge in several technics to safe their face before the husband's family. Sometimes their husbands accepted to show a readily prepared stained sheet. Although, it contradicts law of culture but they did so for love. Such case is always rare in the traditional Africa history.
Nevertheless, in the contemporary time where civilization has a great influence on cultures, this tradition was however put a stop to and it became outdated under the influence of human right. Hence, women virginity became something secret and undisclose like it used to be. This is good enough as it gives respect to women folks as a person who deserves some honour like men. Has any man been queried of his virginity status? Why should this case be for women alone, is this culture not gender biased?
In return of the outdated tradition on virginty comes in this contemporary time a popular saying; "virginity is dignity". I do not detest this fact but I'm always left with mixed thoughts about this statement and some rhetorical questions. what would be the case of someone born without hymen? What of those who lost theirs due to stress? Or she lost it ignorantly and innocently. Is the dignity gone?
A point worthy to note is that dignity encompasses many things, virginity inclusive. However, it would be more unbiased and considerate if virginity is regarded as a part of dignity and not dignity as a whole. There are so many things attached to womanhood, so virginity alone should not be considered as the dignity they posses. It many time gives room for men to mock the women folks.
VIRGINITY AND AFRICA HUMILIATION
Reviewed by Profay
on
August 05, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Profay
on
August 05, 2018
Rating:
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