Thread by @ENDFGM_Network

This month's theme for our Annual Campaign #endFGMmyths is "In Europe, are women's genitalia treated with respect?".

This week, we decided to dive in history to find out what the past can teach us! Read our thread on “The construct of a virginity imposed on women" 👇

❓ What is virginity? It qualifies people who have not had sexual intercourse. This definition raises questions, as noted by @hanneblank in her book “Virgin: The Untouched History”. ⬇️

✅The truth is that the concept of virginity has always been oriented especially towards women and girls.

👉 A male centred heteronormative perspective has placed the act of penetration (penis+vagina) as the only sexual intercourse considered to assess virginity.

From Greek mythology to monotheist religions, female virginity is constructed as a symbol of purity & honour.

Although there is no inherent problem with choosing to remain virgin, the honour-related judgement that's only linked to female bodies creates deep gender inequalities.

Traditionally, blood on the bed sheets after the wedding night were seen as proof of the woman's virginity.

It's a common belief that the hymen's integrity is related to women’s virginity➡️even though the hymen can rip for other reasons than having sex & can remain after sex🤔

Virginity is one’s decision. But historically, the sole focus on women and on their hymens’ integrity is at the root of harmful practices seeking control over female bodies.

To find out more on the topic, stay tuned and follow us in the coming weeks! #endFGMmyths