Well, there are feminists and there are FEMINISTS!, and this little bit of anti-scientific doctrine is standard marquee of the latter. I have nothing but respect for those-who honestly promote elgatarianism and equal opportunity but who are willing to face up to ugly or unappealing truths in order to achieve those goals. I have no truck, however, with someone (man, woman, or jolly green giant) who distorts and twists factual information in order to advance an agenda, which sadly describes the most vocal and animated contingent (though probably a minority) of self-described feminists.
As a friend of mine likes to say, “There you go again with your ‘facts’.” But you’ll find reference to it in any standard text on general anatomy, gynocology, or human reproduction. Our Bodies, Ourselves, which certainly can’t be classed as “oppressive male-dominated patricarchial science” speaks in detail regarding the hymen and issues arising therefrom. I recommend that the OP procure this sage text (or check out a copy from the library) and educate his ladyfriend on the basic features of her own equipment. (He might learn a thing or two as well, despite driving the standard shift version of the H. sapiens vehicle.)
Is the hymen “simply” vaginal adhesions that grow with a fetus/baby/girl? I ask because apparently adhesions are very, very common in infant girls. WhyBaby had one and essentially her inner labia closed up for some unknown period of time. We gently rubbed them with a diaper wipe and they unstuck 3 days after her doctor diagnosed it, but I understand some parents have to use estrogen creams to release their daughter’s adhesions.
But I could see an adhesion happening higher up, not on the labia but the vaginal walls, not being treated with rubbing or estrogen cream, and “becoming” a thin sheet of flesh that we then call a hymen.
That would explain why they’re all different, and why there’s no purpose in it - it’s just skin that develops where other skin got stuck to other skin.
There’s a school of thought circulating around out there which says that some hymens are never torn even through vigorous intercourse, and some hymens are in tatters during a state of virginity, thus the little membranous ring has absolutely no meaning other than that given to leering jealous bridegrooms. Therefore it’s more evidence that Men Just Make Shit Up To Keep Women Down.
I don’t have the answer to that, but I think it’s hard to ignore the firsthand anecdotal evidence from women who say that yes, hymen tearing is often a significant part of losing virginity. Maybe not a conclusion in itself, but certainly a data point if you’re trying to evaluate a rape claim or something… a completely imperforate hymen would tend to disprove claims of penetration.
She might have. I read it as her saying she was old enough to feel it and remember the pain. My hymen was broken so young I really don’t remember it, nor could I tell you if it hurt or not, separate from the pain of first intercourse before I was ready or aroused.
This being Mathochist, I somehow suspect that the next post is going to be a formal categorical representation of Feminist Theory and Queer Theory in terms of topos…
I once asked “What is the hymen for?” in high school bio, and was told its purpose is to provide a barrier to infection. That’s all. Your body tries to get by with as few apertures as possible – every one is a vulnerable point. A woman has no practical use for her vaginal canal until she starts having sex, so she might as well have a membrane keeping out the yeast, bacteria, etc. The teacher told me this as if it were a plain well-known fact and not at all controversial. Cecil’s column took me totally by surprise.
It doesn’t. But it just happened six months ago, so it’s fresh in my memory, and owing to the significance of the event and our complete and utter consciousness of what was going on, it was hard to miss. Intercourse f***ing hurts.
That’s what the whores get for riding astride and using tampons. Sluts. Just SEE what poor excuses for husbands they manage to land. Their children will be doomed to a life of state colleges and Hamburger Helper because Mom wanted to go swimming during her Visit. (we need a “Tsk-tsk!” smiley)
This thread makes me think of this gem from the fortunes files:
It doesn’t quite fit, but I think it captures the spirit: Wishing doesn’t make it so. Even if you have a five billion strong army or degrees from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
