An Individualist Responds: Embracing Virginity as a Social Construct
In recent days, a video circulated on conservative social media platforms has reignited debates surrounding the concept of virginity. The video, produced by Planned Parenthood, boldly claims that "virginity is a completely made-up concept" designed to control and shame individuals, particularly women. While the video prompts important discussions, it fails to capture the nuanced complexities of the issue.
The majority of the video delves into the medical aspects of virginity from a female perspective, and then explores how individuals define the concept of "losing one's virginity." Ultimately, the speaker advocates for discarding the notion of 'losing' virginity and instead framing sexual intercourse as an experience of gaining intimacy, self-insight, pleasure, and empowerment.
Perhaps surprisingly, we agree with the speaker - virginity is indeed a social construct. However, this agreement stems from different reasons than those presented in the video. This article seeks to explore why virginity can be recognized as a social construct while still maintaining its relevance and importance. Additionally, it addresses the problematic assertion of moral authority by Planned Parenthood in dismissing the concept of virginity.
The Value of Virginity as a Social Construct
Virginity, often associated with moral weight and societal expectations, holds a unique place in human experience. It represents not just the absence of sexual experience but also signifies a transition from youthful innocence to adult experience. This transition is irreversible and marks a pivotal moment in an individual's life, impacting their relationships, pair-bonding, self-perception, and emotional well-being.
It is undeniable that there exists a profound divide between individuals who have engaged in sexual intercourse and those who have not. This demarcation is not a mere construct but a tangible reality. The decision to engage in sexual intimacy marks a pivotal moment, one that cannot be undone and significantly alters one's sense of self and relationships. The initial act of sexual intimacy with another human being is a one-time event. It marks one of the most important adult decisions of life - who will you risk sharing this once-in-a-lifetime event with?
The societal veneration and celebration of virginity were not intended to shame or control individuals but rather to safeguard them from making uninformed decisions driven solely by hormones and emotions. The emphasis on preserving virginity until one is mature enough to comprehend its significance serves as a protective measure, guiding individuals through the complexities of intimacy with awareness and maturity.
This then, the importance that societies placed on this event, that is the social construct. It was because of societies' value of virginity that they carefully and thoughtfully constructed it - not for their own sake, but for the sake of their children.
Personal Opinion is not Moral Authority
The speaker in the Planned Parenthood video is entitled to their own opinion about the value of virginity as we all are. It is the hallmark of individualism to respect the right of others to form, hold and express their own opinion. However, the assumed moral authority of the speaker has no real substance. Their opinion is entirely just that - their own opinion. There are others within their social circle who undoubtedly agree with this low valuation of virginity and indeed there may well be an entire sub-culture of individuals that agree with them.
This does not constitute moral authority. So their derision of something held by the vast majority of societies throughout history and by most people still today, should be given no special credence. Their inability or unwillingness to value something doesn't change its value to those who appreciate its value. It is the equivalent of someone not appreciating the value of a Mickey Mantle baseball card in mint condition because "it's just silly old card". That doesn't change the value of it to those who care and appreciate it.
Their lack of appreciation for the value of virginity says more about them than it does about those who do place value on it. If they cannot or will not appreciate one of the fundamental realities of human bonding and intimacy, and instead place more value on promiscuity and "experience", then the society they create will reflect this low value in a myriad of ways leading ultimately to a society incapable of appreciating the value of anything.
With that being said, as individualists, we support their freedom to go down this low-value path. They have every right to do so. Conversely, they do not have the right to define the value of virginity for anyone else. They should, in all honesty, start their video with the phrase "In our opinion . . ." because for all their effort to couch it with some sense of moral certainty and weight in the end it is just their opinion and nothing more.
In conclusion, we have not addressed in this brief article any of the various arguments the myriad of societies and religions traditions have used in support of their valuation of virginity. These are also personal arguments each person may or may not agree with. This article only seeks to address the perspective offered by Planned Parenthood and to clearly outline it's shortcomings. Our conclusion is that the value of virginity is indeed a social construct but this does not lessen its importance, relevance or impact on all of our lives.