Virginity Tests in India: Tradition or Oppression?

 

Heard of White Sheets on the First Night... Why is it so?

There is a community in India called Kanjarbhat. In this community, after all the wedding rituals and customs are performed, they let the bride and groom go into a room, and then the groom is asked, "*Tujhe jo maal mila tha, voh khara mila tha ya khota?*" This means, "Were the goods you received good or spoilt?" Here, they are referring to the girl's virginity.

  I think we pretty much got the point why is it important for us to know about virginity when india is bearing many incidents like even today!!

For Context

Let's delve a little bit into virginity and understand what it actually means.

Virginity is a taboo social constraint used to determine whether a person has engaged in sexual intercourse or not.

Now, how do people estimate that?

In the vagina, there is a thin membrane called the "Hymen." People believe that during sexual intercourse, the hymen breaks, and it may cause slight bleeding. To verify a girl's virginity, white sheets are sometimes used on the first night to check for this bleeding.

Understanding the Issue

In India, the ideal bride is expected to be someone who respects elders, possesses domestic skills, is patient, and is also a virgin.

Here's an anecdote:

There have been instances where couples engaged in premarital sex, but in order to show that the girl is a virgin, the boy would slightly cut his finger using a blade and pour the blood on the bedsheet. This way, he can prove to his relatives that the girl is a virgin. In some cases, husbands have even rejected their wives because they did not bleed during the wedding night. There are also rituals in some communities where the newlywed couple is shown explicit content and given demonstrations on sexual intercourse, while superstitions suggest that failure to perform such rituals may lead to difficulties in conceiving or nursing a newborn.

As India continues to face these incidents even today, a new issue arises.

Virginity Regain

Some girls from conservative families try to undergo a surgery called "Hymenoplasty." This procedure involves repairing a broken or absent hymen.

Dr. Arth Shah, a plastic surgeon, stated, "There has been an increase of 20-30% in these surgeries every year."

The importance of sex education and the impact of patriarchal beliefs are quite visible here. In certain villages, girls are forced to discontinue their education and are discouraged from pursuing any profession.

This taboo significantly affects relationships between women and men, impedes women's development in society, and ultimately hinders overall societal growth.

Conclusion

It is crucial to approach the topic of virginity with sensitivity and respect, recognizing that each person's sexual experiences and choices are personal and should not be judged or stigmatized. Understanding and discussing virginity in an open and non-judgmental way can help foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for all individuals.