Another post on EF this week asked members to give their 'number', that is the number of people they've had sex with. The curious part of this question were the rules set down by it, which limited responses by only including straight sex (vaginal sex with a man) and excluded all other forms of sexual behavior (oral sex, anal sex, gay sex). I decided to go research what different cultures think of as 'sex' and what different people think of as virginity.
Virgin as defined by:
The Free Dictionary
1. A person who has not experienced sexual intercourse.
2. A chaste or unmarried woman; a maiden.
3. An unmarried woman who has taken religious vows of chastity.
Random House Dictionary
1. a person who has never had sexual intercourse.
2. an unmarried girl or woman.
3. Ecclesiastical. an unmarried, religious woman, esp. a saint.
Online Etymology Dictionary
c.1200, "unmarried or chaste woman noted for religious piety and having a position of reverence in the Church," from O.Fr. virgine, from L. virginem (nom. virgo) "maiden, unwedded girl or woman," also an adj., "fresh, unused," probably related to virga "young shoot." For sense evolution, cf. Gk. talis "a marriageable girl," cognate with L. talea "rod, stick, bar." Meaning "young woman in a state of inviolate chastity" is recorded from c.1310. Also applied since c.1330 to a chaste man. Meaning "naive or inexperienced person" is attested from 1953. The adj. is recorded from 1560 in the lit. sense; fig. sense of "pure, untainted" is attested from c.1300.
I also watched a really great video by Kara Sutra about the redefining of virginity and I have to say, I think she's onto something here. I think that its time we redefine virginity. As a woman living a homosexual lifestyle with a long term partner and having never been with a man sexually, I have the label 'virgin' in some forum discussions and in everyday life. But if anyone were to see us together they would know this was absolutely preposterous. I am most certainly not a virgin and I definitely feel my current partner was the one who changed that for me. Here is another interesting article regarding lesbian women and virginity: link
I believe that a big part of my believing that is because I feel she was the first person I ever gave my body over to entirely. The first person who I said: 'Anything you want to give to me and anything you want to take from me, is yours.' And before her, I had never experienced that sort of personal, sexual surrender.
So, I want to know what you think about the current definitions of virginity and what you feels constitutes a loss of virginity? In the poll, I've only included a list of actions and an 'other' option. Select other if you believe the loss of virginity cannot be defined by a physical activity and be sure to expand upon that in your comments.
Also, how do you feel about people who were raped before having sex? Do you feel they have lost their 'virginity'? And what do you feel about people who want to 'reclaim' their virginity? Do you believe virginity works on a sliding scale?
Virgin as defined by:
The Free Dictionary
1. A person who has not experienced sexual intercourse.
2. A chaste or unmarried woman; a maiden.
3. An unmarried woman who has taken religious vows of chastity.
Random House Dictionary
1. a person who has never had sexual intercourse.
2. an unmarried girl or woman.
3. Ecclesiastical. an unmarried, religious woman, esp. a saint.
Online Etymology Dictionary
c.1200, "unmarried or chaste woman noted for religious piety and having a position of reverence in the Church," from O.Fr. virgine, from L. virginem (nom. virgo) "maiden, unwedded girl or woman," also an adj., "fresh, unused," probably related to virga "young shoot." For sense evolution, cf. Gk. talis "a marriageable girl," cognate with L. talea "rod, stick, bar." Meaning "young woman in a state of inviolate chastity" is recorded from c.1310. Also applied since c.1330 to a chaste man. Meaning "naive or inexperienced person" is attested from 1953. The adj. is recorded from 1560 in the lit. sense; fig. sense of "pure, untainted" is attested from c.1300.
I also watched a really great video by Kara Sutra about the redefining of virginity and I have to say, I think she's onto something here. I think that its time we redefine virginity. As a woman living a homosexual lifestyle with a long term partner and having never been with a man sexually, I have the label 'virgin' in some forum discussions and in everyday life. But if anyone were to see us together they would know this was absolutely preposterous. I am most certainly not a virgin and I definitely feel my current partner was the one who changed that for me. Here is another interesting article regarding lesbian women and virginity: link
I believe that a big part of my believing that is because I feel she was the first person I ever gave my body over to entirely. The first person who I said: 'Anything you want to give to me and anything you want to take from me, is yours.' And before her, I had never experienced that sort of personal, sexual surrender.
So, I want to know what you think about the current definitions of virginity and what you feels constitutes a loss of virginity? In the poll, I've only included a list of actions and an 'other' option. Select other if you believe the loss of virginity cannot be defined by a physical activity and be sure to expand upon that in your comments.
Also, how do you feel about people who were raped before having sex? Do you feel they have lost their 'virginity'? And what do you feel about people who want to 'reclaim' their virginity? Do you believe virginity works on a sliding scale?
