Virginity Testing Research Articles

Legislating Virginity: The Law and Ethics of Hymenoplasty and Virginity Testing

According to Merriam Webster, the definition of a ‘virgin’ is someone who has never participated in sexual intercourse. This definition revolves around heterosexual relationships and the assumption that the intercourse will involve a person with a penis and another with a vagina. However, what one considers sexual intercourse can vary from person to person (for example, whether oral sex is included) and the definition incurs greater difficulty when linked to anatomy, specifically the hymen. The hymen is a thin membrane of skin near the opening of the vagina, which consists of leftover fragments of tissue formed during foetal development, found only in female mammals. The presence of the hymen still holds significant importance in most religions as it is believed to determine a woman’s ‘purity’ and ability to marry, an essential factor for their position within their community, due to the commodification of female virginity. Consequently, women often face violence when they are accused of not being a virgin, or are found to have a hymen which is not intact. Due to the gender binary being imposed by the concept of virginity, this essay assumes that most people with hymens identify as women, whilst still acknowledging that trans*, non-binary and intersex people can also share this anatomical feature. This essay will discuss the cultural practices that encourage virginity testing and hymenoplasty, followed by an analysis of potential harm-reduction solutions with reference to the historical and religious background which places virginity as a gendered concept. Whether the measures put in place by the Health and Care Act 2022 are sufficient in preventing the violence against women which stems from practices surrounding virginity will be discussed in the context of the practical realities of virginity testing. This idea will be explored within the framework of the UK’s legal system with reference to other European jurisdictions for context.

Revoicing Attitude of Virginity Test: An Appraisal-based Translation Study on News Discourse

The virginity test is a long-standing tradition that has been documented in at least 20 countries around the globe (WHO, 2018). Women and girls are frequently subjected to or forced to undergo this test for various reasons. In the Indonesian context, this gynecological examination conducted under the belief to determine if a woman has had vaginal intercourse has to be experienced by female military candidates. In response, the Indonesian army has set to remove this somewhat controversial policy. Through media, this issue was packed in such a way that reflects the media's stance. Accordingly, this research aims to investigate how media take a stance toward this issue and how the translated version delivers it from the perspective of translation studies and appraisal theory using the qualitative method. Appraisal resources identified the data and compared the original text to the Indonesian versions retrieved from the ABC online news portal (Australian and Indonesia-based). This method is conducted to gather and interpret any attitudinal resources in both original and translated texts. It reveals that the translated version, compared to the more neutral-sounded original one, exploits a more clear-cut attitude towards the issue. Various attitudinal lexis including invasive, gender-based, victim and abusive, are chosen to revoice her stance that this practice is groundless. Through its translation, the author articulates her attitude louder. It proves that different target readers influence how the information is packed and constructed. As a re-situated text, translation barely occurs in an empty space.

(084) Frequency of Bleeding at First Vaginal Intercourse and Stereotypes Surrounding it: A Pilot Survey of 6370 Russian-Speaking Women

Abstract Introduction Despite the fact not all women experience bleeding at first vaginal intercourse (BFVI), in some cultures failure to prove virginity on the wedding night (sheets/garments covered with blood) may have serious consequences for a woman (bullying, domestic violence, shame and even honor killings). Low awareness of the true frequency of BFVI and of individual variation of the anatomy of the hymen may lead to inaccurate conclusions in cases of sexual assault or “virginity testing” (VT) at schools and/or in clinical settings, which can have a drastic impact on the mental health of young women. In cultures where defloration is sacralized, young women tend to choose anal sex instead of vaginal, which bears further risks including higher hazard of HIV; women also tend to seek hymenoplasty often performed in secrecy (in many cases it cannot guarantee bleeding at following intercourse, as intended). Objective To evaluate the frequency of stereotypes surrounding BFVI among Russian-speaking women Methods An anonymous survey was completed by 6370 Russian-speaking women across different countries who have had at least one vaginal intercourse. We aimed to reach women from varying religious, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. The survey included questions on whether women experienced BFVI and if not, whether it had any negative consequences; and list of questions regarding their feelings about virginity, hymen reconstruction and sex in general. The questionnaire was distributed by the authors and biomedical bloggers, via social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram). Preliminary results are presented. Results Median age was 31 (15–70); 59% were married; 73.6% reported being raised in secular families. 21.2% - in religious families, and 2.1% - in strictly religious. 43,2% respondents denied having any BFVI; 42,3% confirmed BFVI; while 5,3% reported bleeding on following sexual encounters but not on first intercourse. A minority (3,6%) did not remember whether any bleeding was present. Among those who didn’t have BFVI, 75 (2,2%) reported long-lasting conflicts with partners, 166 (5%) reported withdrawal of their partners, 115 (3,5%)– mistrust, 88 (2,7%)– constant blaming, 37 (1,1 %) – emotional abuse, 2 (0,1%) – physical violence. Two hundred twenty-three (3.5%) women experienced VT at school, 76 (1.2%) referred themselves for VT, and 25 (0.4%) did so at the demand of their own family. Conclusions Traditions demonstrating BFVI associate with negative emotions and affect marital relationships as well as sexual health of women. Medical professionals should be aware of the frequency of BFVI; anatomy and gynecology books should reflect corresponding scientific findings. Myths about virginity should be addressed via media and opinion leaders to prevent gender based violence. Disclosure No.

Breaking the Silence: Confronting Virginity Testing and Upholding HumanRights

Breaking the Silence: Confronting Virginity Testing and Upholding HumanRights

Kajian Hukum Pemeriksaan Selaput Dara dari Perspektif Ham dan Ditinjau dari Sistem Hukum Negara

Hymen examination is synonymous with the 'virginity test' which is a controversial examination by medical professionals. One of the famous myths about virginity is that 'virginity' is proven by writing the appearance of "intact hymen". Along with the times, this can also have an impact on the field of law, especially health law, that examination of the hymen which is carried out by medical professionals raises pros and cons. when viewed also from the side of Human Rights (HAM) and how it relates when faced with the State Law system for the sake of law. The form of this research is normative juridical research. with a conceptual approach (Conceptual Approach), while the type of research is descriptive exploratory using the philosophy of Integrative Law Theory. Examination of the hymen which can be called a virginity test is not allowed because it is not in accordance with the dignity of women and contains elements of discrimination. Medical examinations that aim to assist law enforcement include making a post mortem et repertum for someone sent by the police (investigators). The application of Article 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Indonesia is an application of the Continental European legal system. judicial medical experts (forensic doctors) can be included in the examination at the crime scene (TKP) in order to establish the cause of death and the manner of death.

Midwives' Views on Virginity Testing: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Several cultural and social factors have influenced virginity testing as a medical procedure. This procedure is performed, but sometimes there is no scientific reason to perform it. Objective: This study investigated the views of midwives working in Tabriz, Iran, about virginity testing. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 midwives using the sociodemographic and a researcher-made questionnaire to assess midwives’ views on virginity testing. The samples were selected by random sampling among midwives working in Tabriz City, Iran. The Pearson correlation test, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA were used to determine the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and midwives’ views on virginity testing. Results: The Mean±SD age of the participants was 35.25±8.9 years. The overall score of the midwives’ view on virginity testing was 206.98, of an attainable range from 55 to 275. There was a significant relationship between the overall score of midwives’ views on virginity testing with the variables of age (P=0.033), education level (P=0.001), ethnicity (P=0.012), place of residence (P=0.001), and place of employment (P=0.001). Most midwives (56.2%) believe virginity testing has no therapeutic value and prevention of problems and should not be done, and 59.1% opposed virginity testing motivated by a man’s right to impose a healthy virginity condition on marriage. Most participants (81.9%) agreed to perform virginity testing to investigate rape and sexual abuse. Conclusion: The authorities and the legislators should take the necessary measures to prepare the regulations and provide appropriate training to this group.

India, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, and the 1979 Virginity Testing Scandal

Abstract This article looks at India’s complaint at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in 1979 about the ‘virginity test’ performed on a migrant Indian woman at Heathrow. It examines the use of arguments about race and racial discrimination by India to compel Britain to discuss immigration on a bilateral basis. The article argues that the pivot to a race-based argument was deliberately patriarchal and India’s main concern in these negotiations was the impending British Nationality Act of 1981, which would prevent men from moving to Britain in search of an overseas wife. Using the virginity testing scandal, the article re-examines the changing role of discourses about race in postcolonial institutions of global governance.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE PRACTICE OF VIRGINITY TESTING CONDUCTED BY THE INDONESIAN NATIONAL ARMED FORCES AND THE INDONESIAN NATIONAL POLICE FORCE

Virginity testing is a practice that is discriminatory, degrading to the honor and dignity of women, and is also a violation of human rights, which is carried out by the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) towards female police officer candidates as well as the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) towards female soldier candidates. Therefore, two problems arise in this research, namely what kind of obligations and responsibilities does Indonesia have in regards to providing legal protection for women according to international law, and how is the legality of the practice of the virginity tests carried out by POLRI and TNI according to international law. This study uses a qualitative, normative-legal approach. The result of this study are as follows: The obligations and responsibilities that Indonesia has in regards to providing legal protection for women is mandated by Article 7 of UDHR, Article 4 letters d, e, f, and l of Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (DEVAW), Article 2 letters a, b, c, and f of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), as well as Article 3 and Article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In regards to the legality of the virginity tests carried out by POLRI and TNI, such practice violates article 1, article 2, article 5 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), article 1, article 2 section (3), article 3, and article 4 letter b of DEVAW, article 1 and article 2 letter d of CEDAW, article 7 of ICCPR, as well as article 16 and article 10 of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).

A MASKED RITUAL: WEDDING NIGHT VIRGINITY TEST AMONG SRI LANKAN MUSLIMS

The virginity test in the wedding bed is a widespread custom in many cultures and Sri Lanka is no exception. Wedding night virginity testing among Muslim community is camouflaged and masked but prevails. As a result, this study was created to investigate the significance, explanations, relevance, and reasoning for the Muslim marital virginity test as a marriage custom. This study is wholly qualitative. In order to gather data, nine cases were studied in-depth using the snowball sampling technique. One focus group discussion and five key informant interviews were done. The study has shown that the entire virginity test for the bridal bed is a pointless, damaging, humiliating, and unfair practice. The concept of hymenoplasty is barely understood by respondents. Several terms are used to describe virginity tests, such as potti odakkiya (cracking box), pon kulippaattal (bride bathing), etc. The celebration of the virginity test is marked with a breakfast feast, gifts such as gold jewelry, etc. The wedding bed virginity test has been viewed as a harmful habit, encouraging feelings of inferiority and decreasing self-worthiness. Despite gender inequalities, it was proposed that the community at large be educated about the unreliability of wedding bed virginity tests. This study fills a research gap and contributes much-needed empirical data to the academic world by providing an explanatory review on the wedding bed virginity test among Sri Lankan Muslims.

Two finger tests: Violation of right to privacy, physical and mental integrity and dignity

On Monday, October 31, 2022, the Supreme Court of India outlawed the two-finger test, which is used to medically confirm rape. Doctors do this test by putting two fingers inside the victim's vagina to check for virginity. Girls and women who have never had physical contact are referred to as virgins. The virginity test is used to determine whether or not sexual activity has taken place. It is assumed that if two fingers can easily enter the vagina, the girl or woman is sexually active, which results in the virginity of the girl or woman. The Supreme Court (SC) noted that this makes it clear that it is never acceptable to rape a sexually active girl or woman. Additionally, SC claims that there is no scientific support for the idea of virginity and that it is rejected by science. This exam makes the girl or lady feel uncomfortable mentally and intensifies the trauma of the incident. SC urges the federal government to create and distribute guidelines to all states so they can discontinue the aforementioned test as soon as feasible through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The SC directs medical colleges to take this material off their required reading lists. This article investigates the two finger test, how it's done, and how it infringes on a girl or woman's right to privacy, as well as their physical and mental integrity and dignity. Making a legislation will undoubtedly alter the current situation since everyone will be aware that doing tests like the two finger test is prohibited and that the government will take strict action to stop it.

From Dictatorship Syndrome to False Truths: The Political Evolution of Alaa al-Aswany

The majority of Egyptians are happy to be oppressed . . . They hated the revolution from the beginning because it embarrassed them in front of themselves . . . The Egyptians live in the Republic of False Truths . . . Everything in Egypt is a lie, except for the revolution. Only the revolution is true, which is why they hate it, because it shows up their corruption and their hypocrisy. (Republic, 386)Asmaa had hoped against hope, that the uprising would uplift the Egyptian people from their shackles. But as she bore the brunt of the counterrevolution's crackdown, enduring sexually humiliating virginity tests by the Egyptian state's “Apparatus”, she eventually decided that Egypt was beyond saving. By the end of Alaa al-Aswany's latest novel, The Republic of False Truths, his revolutionary heroine has decided to leave Egypt and seek exile in the UK. In her final letter to her comrade and putative love interest Mazen, she begs her confidante to follow suit, and leave Egypt as soon as he has been released from state custody. Yet even as the uprising failed to supplant dictatorship, it remains sacred in the hearts of its supporters. This is evidenced by Madany, father of the fallen revolutionary leader Khaled, who exacts his own justice by arranging a hit on the police officer who murdered his son. The revolution lives on, but only when the revolutionaries take justice into their own hands.

Fashion, Thresholds, and Borders

Fashion, Thresholds, and Borders

A SURVEY OF VIRGINITY TESTING IN THE UNITED STATES

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of virginity testing and evaluate the attitudes and effects of virginity testing in the United States, as reported by the general population and healthcare providers.

Statistical study of the size and spatial distribution of defects in a cast aluminium alloy for the low fatigue life assessment

Cast aluminium alloys, and more widely cast materials, are frequently used in industry. The casting process allows for complex geometries of parts, but, on the downside, often causes materials voids. It is well known these material defects are harmful for material fatigue performances, but the nature of these defects, in a statistical manner, are more seldom studied. This paper aims at proposing a methodology for finding the underlying characteristics of the defect population (size and spatial distribution) and determine their implication on fatigue behaviour in the presence of stress/strain gradients (notched specimens). To do so, various statistical tools are brought from different fields, such as point processes, and applied to experimentally observed defect distributions (by μCT tomography on virgin test specimens). The population of defects is clearly identified, and it is shown these defects are not randomly distributed, but rather in cluster. It is also shown there is no strong link between the defect size an it’s location. Knowing the statistics of the defect population, it is then possible to confront the result of fatigue tests (and the observed initiating defects) with the simulated defect population: the fatigue crack initiation mechanisms, which favour (sub-) surface rather than core initiating defects, reduce the size of the active zone and therefore artificially shift the defect size distribution (by reducing their number).

Introduction

Abstract Gender-based violence, (geo)politics, and Islam continue to dominate the production of knowledge about Central Asia. While using a gender lens, this Special Issue offers a different perspective on the region. The authors link historical analyses of imperial and Soviet gendered modernities to contemporary Central Asians’ daily lives and local nationalisms to shed light on often overlooked areas in the literature, such as a systematic screening out of historical and contemporary gender diversity, sex work, virginity tests, in-bodiment (as in corporeality, not just the performance of social norms,) queer activism, and the use and abuse of discourse on traditions. As a platform for a conversation about negotiating gender in Central Asia and indigenizing gender theory from within other than Euro-American contexts, this Issue is an example of knowledge production by and with Central Asians. This Issue is also an invitation to continue using a gender lens, as there are still several research areas that remain unexplored and would, we believe, benefit from such an approach.

Archiving the Algerian Revolution in Zineb Sedira's Gardiennes d'images

Archiving the Algerian Revolution in Zineb Sedira's <i>Gardiennes d'images</i>

“Whose Human Rights Anyway?” Post-colonial Perspectives of Being Intombi (Virgin) in Contemporary South Africa

ABSTRACT This article explores how izintombi (virgins) in the Zulu culture make sense of being young, Zulu and woman in contemporary South Africa; a country where human rights are protected through the Bill of rights within the Constitution, and watched by human rights activists. The resurgence of ubuntombi (virginity) in-between the mid 1980s and the mid 1990s was accompanied by the revival of virginity testing. This aroused discontentment from some scholars, human rights advocates and gender activists who regard it as a violation of girls’ human rights. Representations from practitioners of ubuntombi (virginity), however, were not among the critics, yet they consider this cultural practice their cultural heritage and identity. The article is based on empirical research conducted on ubuntombi (virginity) through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) in KwaZulu-Natal province. Through a postcolonial feminist theoretical lens, the article demonstrates that the tested young Zulu women, included in the research, re-narrate and re-claim ubuntombi and virginity testing as cultural practices that inform their young womanhood in the Zulu context. Even though some izintombi object to virginity testing, they similarly enjoy their status of being izintombi since they regard it as their indigenous practice.

The Policy of Virginity Testing in the Indonesian Military from the Perspectives of Public Values and Control toward Bureaucratic Discretion

As an agent who implements government policies (principals), it remains a heated debate about whether bureaucracy should be value-neutral or must adhere to public values and administrative ethics. In response to this debate, the author uses the case study of virginity testing in the Indonesian National Armed Forces as one example of maladministration which proves that the bureaucracy, as institution, structure, or procedure, shall require administrative ethics, as a means to preserving public values. The research methodology used is that of literature review on public values, administrative ethics, and control mechanisms over bureaucratic discretion to prove that the virginity testing has unequivocally violated the TNI code of ethics, Law No. 34 of 2004 concerning TNI, international law, public opinion, medical science, and the code of ethics of the military profession. The author uses both deductive and inductive approaches to form policy recommendations for TNI reform in terms of its of policies, governance, and institutions in accordance with public values, administrative ethics, and control mechanisms over bureaucratic discretion; such as strengthening the internal performance audit of the TNI, establishing an independent external performance audit agency, establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and revising the Law on Government Administration to limit bureaucratic discretion.

Virginity Testing

Virginity testing is a human rights violation involving an examination of the female genitalia, often by a healthcare professional, intended to correlate the appearance of the hymen in women or girls with previous sexual intercourse. Virginity testing examinations are conducted under a variety of circumstances and settings: before marriage to establish virginity, to disprove or prove an allegation of sexual violence, to legally assess the allegation of a woman or girl not being a virgin in the absence of bleeding on her wedding night, and to intimidate political activists and detainees. Despite the United Nations Human Rights Office, United Nations Women, and World Health Organization calling for a ban on this practice, it remains common practice in various regions around the world. It is the position of the International Association of Forensic Nurses that virginity testing cannot accurately determine if consensual sexual activity or sexual abuse has occurred and can result in significant physical, psychological, and social consequences.

Questioned Virginity Has No Definite Reply

Virginity is the nullity of sexual experience in females. However, the use of virginity testing as proof of previous involvement in sexual relations is dependent on having an intact hymen, which refers to a hymen with no signs of previous penetrating injury. Although the quality of this evidence in questioned virginity is extremely poor and considered a violation of human rights, it still constitutes a major facet in medicolegal investigations of sexual assaults. This work evaluates virginity testing as currently practiced in many countries, including Egypt, in terms of medical and legal considerations.