“The Virgin in Prayer” by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato (c. 1645), National Gallery (Accession No. NG200), London, Author/Source Web Gallery of Art (PD-Art, PD-Old-100)
WARNING:Â Graphic Images
Clinics in Britain offer controversial but ineffective tests for virginity which can place lives at risk [1]. Young women who “fail” such tests may be subjected to violence or sexual assault, starvation, banishment from their communities, and – in extreme cases – honor killings.
Shame and Dishonor
In a few cultures, the loss of virginity prior to marriage is still viewed as bringing shame and dishonor on the family and community as a whole. For that reason, virginity testing is often required for marriage.
Forced Testing
Women may be forced by parents, potential partners, or future in-laws to submit to virginity testing.
Virginity tests are, also, at times carried out on sexual assault victims to verify that rape has taken place. Needless…