Check out this article in the New York times about Muslim women having hymen repair so they can represent themselves as virgins on their wedding night. It is common enough that there is even a movie about it!
I thought this stuff went out ages ago but I guess I’m just fooling myself about certain areas of the world where the middle ages is like yesterday! I’m so glad that I don’t live somewhere that the sheets are hung outside after the wedding night to prove how pure the bride was. Check out the annulment discussed in France for breech of contract!
What disturbs me is these are woman who are living in the west and presumably are educated but still are held to a cultural double standard. What kind of relationship do you have with all that deception and hiding? I guess if you are willing to marry someone who places such a high price on something you are not, you are certain to be giving away more of your soul and identity than simply lying about your sexual history. The pressure to conform must be overwhelming–sad–so sad!
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4 Comments
It is sad, and something I can barely comprehend in the society we do live in. Weird.
Wow that’s NUTS! I can’t even imagine being that afraid of my family. I know I’m the black sheep sometimes because I’m supposedly not worried about what my family thinks (although I do care what they think I won’t NOT do something because they might not like it) but I can’t imagine being worried as an adult that my father might beat or kill me for something like that. Yikes.
Really sad to see that “we” can’t stand up for ourselves…the “we” as women…us in the workforce….us in our families…
I say MAKE A STAND…these types of articles are extremely thought provoking - thank you Carol for this eye opening blog entry.
j~
Unbelievable in our “Modern” day and age - So sad and unfortunatly this is a cultural norm in many countries around the world. We are very blessed and lucky in this country to have free expression and power over our own bodies and minds.
Thank you for reminding us of how blessed we are.