# Can a woman who's had children realistically play a virgin? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867 "2013-07-18T17:55:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/1 "2013-07-18T17:55:02Z")
THIS QUESTION IS 100% SERIOUS! For example, suppose a woman has had five kids vaginally. Could that woman convincingly play a virgin? Are the viewers supposed to look past the fact that the woman has a loose vagina, and imagine that, underneath her clothes, her character is neat and tight down there? Is the “rule” basically that, if the body part cannot be shown on television, it’s up to the imagination of the viewer as to what they think it should look like on the character? ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/2 "2013-07-18T17:59:01Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > THIS QUESTION IS 100% SERIOUS! For example, suppose a woman has had five kids vaginally. Could that woman convincingly play a virgin? Are the viewers supposed to look past the fact that the woman has a loose vagina, and imagine that, underneath her clothes, her character is neat and tight down there? > > Is the “rule” basically that, if the body part cannot be shown on television, it’s up to the imagination of the viewer as to what they think it should look like on the character? Only virgins can play virgins. Same thing for serial killers. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/3 "2013-07-18T17:59:08Z")
erm… yes. Because they are acting. I’m not sure you could tell a virgin from a sexually experienced mother of five externally even if if she had nude scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/4 "2013-07-18T17:59:57Z")
My wife had three kids and I’d be happy to lay her vagina next to a virgin’s any day and ask you if you could tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/5 "2013-07-18T18:02:25Z")
Challenge accepted! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/6 "2013-07-18T18:06:47Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > Are the viewers supposed to look past the fact that the woman has a loose vagina, and imagine that, underneath her clothes, her character is neat and tight down there? Look, acting’s not like ventriloquism. It’s not like she has to _throw_ her vagina to be convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/7 "2013-07-18T18:12:05Z")
Does the phrase “suspension of disbelief” mean anything to you? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/8 "2013-07-18T18:12:13Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > Is the “rule” basically that, if the body part cannot be shown on television, it’s up to the imagination of the viewer as to what they think it should look like on the character? It’s not a rule, it’s just what everyone does. We all manage to get by realizing that the actor is not actually the character. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/9 "2013-07-18T18:16:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s not a rule, it’s just what everyone does. We all manage to get by realizing that the actor is not actually the character. In fact, when we are not watching porn, we are not thinking about the character’s vagina at all, much less that of the actor! ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/10 "2013-07-18T18:16:50Z")
Having kids doesn’t give you a loose vagina. It doesn’t work that way. And besides, you can’t even _see_ a woman’s vagina unless you’re right up on it. This question is dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/11 "2013-07-18T18:22:14Z")
> [@Emiliana](#): > > In fact, when we are not watching porn, we are not thinking about the character’s vagina at all, much less that of the actor! Speak for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/12 "2013-07-18T18:55:54Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Does the phrase “suspension of disbelief” mean anything to you? I’ll admit I’m having a hard time with it as I read the OP. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/13 "2013-07-18T19:09:53Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > My wife had three kids and I’d be happy to lay her vagina next to a virgin’s any day and ask you if you could tell the difference. Well, alright… I reckon I’ll take you up on your offer. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/14 "2013-07-18T19:15:28Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > THIS QUESTION IS 100% SERIOUS! For example, suppose a woman has had five kids vaginally. Could that woman convincingly play a virgin? Are the viewers supposed to look past the fact that the woman has a loose vagina, and imagine that, underneath her clothes, her character is neat and tight down there? > > Is the “rule” basically that, if the body part cannot be shown on television, it’s up to the imagination of the viewer as to what they think it should look like on the character? What about non-virgins that haven’t had kids yet? Where do they fit in your vagina-scale? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/15 "2013-07-18T19:18:28Z")
OP. do you have any examples of actresses whose portrayal of a virgin was ruined by their giant floppy vaginas? Perhaps with YouTube clips? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/16 "2013-07-18T19:20:32Z")
This has to be one of the strangest questions I’ve read here. Is the OP serious? How can having children in real life possibly impact credibly portraying a virgin? …unless the actor is pregnant and showing at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/17 "2013-07-18T19:22:14Z")
IMHO, we’re being whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/18 "2013-07-18T19:26:20Z")
Which, coincidentally, is the sound of a vagina after five kids. Regards, Shodan PS - hurray for adoption, all the offspring with 50% less vaginal stretching! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/19 "2013-07-18T19:26:31Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > vagina-scale \*Do-Re-Mi-Va-So-La-Ti-Do Mi - a name I call myself Va - \* ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867/20 "2013-07-18T19:29:24Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > IMHO, we’re being whooshed. Quite possibly. But the OP has a bit of a weird interest in bodies. I checked because i was trying to imagine the mind that came up with this question. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-whos-had-children-realistically-play-a-virgin/663867.md?page=2)