HWN Suggests

‘Virginity tests’ are violent, unnecessary, and without medical merit

These tests would not be ethical or healthy even if they worked, but they don’t—which makes them even worse. A person who’s avoiding sex to prevent stigmatization, punishment, or violence can still “fail” a virginity exam, potentially leading to life-threatening consequences...

Why does it matter that virginity tests don’t work? The concept of a virginity exam relies on several dangerous myths about how bodies—and sex—work. And these misconceptions are harmful even for individuals who aren’t subjected to the violating procedure.

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Featured

 The Cult of Virginity Just Won’t Let Go

The battles over “virginity testing” and “virginity-restoration surgery” reveal the persistence of dangerous pseudoscience.

Articles of Interest

The debate over whether to ban “virginity testing,” explained

Hymens come in different shapes and sizes naturally, and can be broken by activities other than intercourse, Mishori said. There’s no medical evidence that examining the hymen tells a doctor anything about sexual history.

Why Virginity Tests Are Making News — In The U.S. And Afghanistan

According to the U.N., virginity tests are often performed by inspecting the hymen for tears or for the size of its opening, or inserting fingers into the vagina, to determine whether a girl or woman has had sex. WHO states that there is no evidence that the test can prove that a person has had vaginal intercourse or not.

Women suffer the myths of the hymen and the virginity test

Any type of virginity test that relies on the observation of the hymen or of the tightness of the vagina is inconclusive, at best, or completely invalid. The belief that it is easier to discern the virgin state of a woman than a man is more of a fable than a scientific fact. Unfortunately, it is a fable that is still widely believed and practised to subjugate women.