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Tradition of `sworn virgins' dying out in Albania
Drene Markgjoni spent 12 years in a hard-labor camp, punished for her fiance's attempt to flee Albania's regime, then one of the world's most repressive and isolationist. She swore she would never suffer like that for somebody else again.
She pledged to forgo sex and marriage for the rest of her life, and declared herself a man.
That was six decades ago. Now 85, with close-cropped white hair, dressed in a man's blue striped shirt and black trousers, she greets visitors with a manly handshake. The way she walks, her confident gestures, everything about her is masculine.
Only her voice — soft and feminine — reveals her to be one of the last sworn virgins in Albania: Women who dress, act and are treated as men.
"I am happier like this," she says. "I don't regret it at all. Not a hair on my head does."
In this strongly patriarchal society where for centuries women had virtually no standing, sworn virgins enjoyed the same rights and respect as men. They could inherit property, work for a living and sit on the village council, although without the right to vote.
The privileges came at a price. They took an oath of celibacy and could never have sexual relations. And they could never go back to being women.
There are no official figures, but Antonia Young, a research fellow at the University of Bradford in Britain who has studied the practice for more than a decade, estimates that Albania had about 100 sworn virgins in the early 1990s. That number is now almost certainly much lower, as the practice and the women die out.
The reasons for becoming a sworn virgin can be practical — the head of the family dies with no male heir. Or they can be emotional — the woman does not want to marry the man chosen for her.
In Albania, particularly in the impoverished rural north, it was practically inconceivable for a woman to remain single and live alone. Drene Markgjoni spent 12 years in a hard-labor camp, punished for her fiance's attempt to flee Albania's regime, then one of... more -
Virginity auctions?
They say three makes a trend, and an interesting new trend is virginity auctions.
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France: Court says virginity lie should not annul Muslim marriage
A court decision to annul a Muslim couple's marriage because the bride lied about being a virgin discriminates against women and should be overturned, state prosecutors argued Monday.
A court in the northern town of Douai annulled the 2006 marriage in April because the husband discovered on his wedding night that his bride had lied about her virginity. The decision caused an uproar, with some in France calling it a sign that the country's secular values are losing ground to the traditions of its fast-growing immigrant communities. There are some 5 million Muslims in France.
The lower court based its decision on an article of the French Civil Code that states that a spouse can seek an annulment if the partner has misrepresented his or her "essential qualities."
Eric Vaillant, a spokesman for the Douai appeals court, said prosecutors told the three-judge tribunal during a nearly two-hour hearing that a woman's virginity is "in no way ... an essential quality," as the lower court had suggested.
Making a wife's virginity a condition of marriage "would be discriminatory because it would harm the principles of equality between men and women, of free use of one's body and the dignity of the human being," Vaillant said by telephone, summarizing the prosecution's argument.
The prosecution said it was not opposed to the idea of annulling the marriage, which neither couple now wants, but the motive must be "legitimate," in conformity with the principles upheld by France.
Vaillant said the court could base an annulment on an "error about the person, with the couple discovering their true respective personalities on the wedding night" instead of basing it on a false virginity claim.
"We are offering an exit door," he said.
Should the appeals court agree to simply scrap the annulment, the couple will remain married and be forced to seek a divorce.
The couple, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, has not been identified by name. Neither was present in court, Vaillant said.
A verdict is expected Nov. 17. A court decision to annul a Muslim couple's marriage because the bride lied about being a virgin discriminates against women and ... more -
Brothel Story Gets Spanish Politician In Hot Water
MADRID (Reuters) - A Spanish politician's public description of how he lost his virginity in a brothel has angered his female counterparts, who accused him of encouraging prostitution.
Miguel Angel Revilla, head of the government of the northern region of Cantabria, told a television interviewer earlier this week that he had paid the first time he had sex at the age of 18.
Female members of the regional parliament from the opposition conservative Popular Party were outraged. "As the head of the regional government, he should be an example for the young people of Cantabria," they said in a communique.
"Instead he encourages them to pay for their first sexual experience."
Thursday, Revilla, a member of a regional party, accused his critics of hypocrisy and said they were unable to find matters of substance on which to attack him.
"There are major problems which need to be addressed now, not what a poor 18-year-old did," said Revilla, who is now 65, adding: " Ninety-nine percent of Spanish men did it back then." MADRID (Reuters) - A Spanish politician's public description of how he lost his virginity in a brothel has angered his female cou... more -
Italian model to sell her virginity for €1 million
Model, showgirl, and Big Brother alumna Raffella Fico, 20, told Italian rag Chi that she would offer herself for €1 million so she could buy a house in Rome and pay for acting classes. Then she said about the guy who was blinded enough by her beauty to get passed the apparent lack of brains and pay to have sex with her: "if he's ugly or if I don't like him I'll just have a glass of wine and forget about it."
Apparently, she's not the first to offer her purity for a pretty penny. "An 18-year-old US student in San Diego, Natalie Dylan, recently told the Howard Stern show she would have sex for the first time for $1 million to pay her college fees. In 2005 a Peruvian model, also 18, put herself up for sale to help pay her family's medical bills but ended up having second thoughts and turning down $1.5 million."
Would you put a price on your virginity? Model, showgirl, and Big Brother alumna Raffella Fico, 20, told Italian rag Chi that she would offer herself for €1 million so she cou... more -
One night stands, teenage pregnancies, threesomes...let's talk about sex hone...
Sexperience offers a wide range of videos that give real personal experiences of sexual issues and problems, as well as providing frank advice. The videos cover a broad variety of topics from when people lost their virginity to threesomes.
Britain has the worst STD rate among young people and the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Western Europe, so we really need to start talking about sex more openly.
YouGov's Sex Education survey for Channel 4 revealed that 20% of the 14-17-year-olds surveyed had their first sexual experience at 13 or under and that 15% of teens are unaware there is no cure for HIV/AIDS.
Sexperience will open up discussions and encourage young people to talk about sex more honestly. Sexperience offers a wide range of videos that give real personal experiences of sexual issues and problems, as well as providing fran... more -
Actor lost virginity to older woman
'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he lost his virginity to an older woman, according to reports in the US, and the age difference would “freak some people out”, although the 19-year-old actor said it “wasn't ridiculous”. Radcliffe is set to to appear on stage in New York. 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he lost his virginity to an older woman, according to reports in the US, a... more
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Woman auctions virginity to pay for education
The woman, who has earned a bachelor degree in women's studies and now wants to start a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, is hoping the bidding will hit $1 million. The woman, who has earned a bachelor degree in women's studies and now wants to start a master's degree in marriage and fami... more
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STERN AUCTIONS OFF WOMAN'S VIRGINITY
Famed radio host Howard Stern is set to shock audiences once again - when he helps auction off a 22-year-old girl's virginity on Tuesday (09Sep08).
The San Diego, California woman approached Stern to appear on his Sirius radio show in a desperate bid to pay off her college tuition.
Using the pseudonym of Natalie Dylan, she tells the New York Daily News, "I don't have a moral dilemma with it... We live in a capitalist society. Why shouldn't I be allowed to capitalize on my virginity?
"I understand some people may condemn me. But I think this is empowering. I'm using what I have to better myself."
But Dylan insists her rising bills won't mean giving it up to the highest bidder. She says: "I want someone with chemistry. We'll take bids until I find a suitor I'm happy with."
The auction will be conducted online on adult website Bunnyranch.com. Famed radio host Howard Stern is set to shock audiences once again - when he helps auction off a 22-year-old girl's virginity on ... more -
Struggling Virgin
It is hard to keep yourself pure when you're a twenty-something model living in New York City. Meet the Struggling Virgin --- waiting to be touched for the very first time. It is hard to keep yourself pure when you're a twenty-something model living in New York City. Meet the Struggling Virgin --- wai... more
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Places you probably lost your virginity...
Alright, people. Give it up (the details, not your virginity if you don't want to). Did you break away from the norm for your special moment? Check the list. Alright, people. Give it up (the details, not your virginity if you don't want to). Did you break away from the norm for your spe... more
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In Europe, debate over Islam and virginity
PARIS — The operation in the private clinic off the Champs-Élysées involved one semicircular cut, 10 dissolving stitches and a discounted fee of $2,900.
But for the patient, a 23-year-old French student of Moroccan descent from Montpellier, the 30-minute procedure represented the key to a new life: the illusion of virginity.
Those who perform the procedure say they are empowering patients by giving them a viable future and preventing them from being abused — or even killed — by their fathers or brothers. PARIS — The operation in the private clinic off the Champs-Élysées involved one semicircular cut, 10 dissolving stitches and a discoun... more -
Operation lets Muslim women reclaim virginity
The surgery in the private clinic off the Champs-Élysées involved one semicircular cut, 10 self-dissolving stitches and a discounted fee of $2,900.
But for the patient, a 23-year-old French student of Moroccan descent from Montpellier, the 30-minute procedure represented the key to a new life: the illusion of virginity... The surgery in the private clinic off the Champs-Élysées involved one semicircular cut, 10 self-dissolving stitches and a discounted f... more -
K-Mart Sweatpants Keep You From Getting Laid
"These athletic pants boldly proclaim just where she stands by pointing out that 'True Love Waits' in a large screen print on the front and back of these pants." "These athletic pants boldly proclaim just where she stands by pointing out that 'True Love Waits' in a large screen pr... more
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Public outrage: is virginity an essential quality of marriage?
The bride said she was a virgin. When her new husband discovered that was a lie, he went to court to annul the marriage—and a French judge agreed.
The ruling ending the Muslim couple's union has stunned France and raised concerns the country's much-cherished secular values are losing ground to religious traditions from its fast-growing immigrant communities.
..."is a real fatwa against the emancipation and liberty of women. We are returning to the past," said Urban Affairs Minister Fadela Amara...
...unrelenting outcry...
..."In a democratic and secular country, we cannot consider virginity as an essential quality of marriage," said an expert on French secularism, Jacqueline Costa-Lascoux... The bride said she was a virgin. When her new husband discovered that was a lie, he went to court to annul the marriage—and a French j... more -
Confession: Virginity
Current Confessions is a series of interviews focusing on young peoples perspectives on sex and relationships in the modern world. This episode explores people's first experiences of sex. Current Confessions is a series of interviews focusing on young peoples perspectives on sex and relationships in the modern world. Thi... more
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Virgin Sacrifice: Father/Daughter Dance
This is pretty creepy. Imagine going to a Chastity Gala dance with your father.. and promising to stay a virgin until you marry...ugh.. This is pretty creepy. Imagine going to a Chastity Gala dance with your father.. and promising to stay a virgin until you marry...ugh.... more
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Daughters Pledge Celibacy To Dad At Annual Purity Balls
During the past several years the abstinence movement has become popular with young Americans. Among some teens and young adults , however, maintaining chastity has taken on a whole new meaning. Increasingly more young women are pledging their virginity to their fathers at wedding-like "purity" balls , where presents are exchanged and contracts are signed. This begs the question; when does a father's interest in his daughter's sex-life go from caring to creepy? During the past several years the abstinence movement has become popular with young Americans. Among some teens and young adults , h... more
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Born again virgin?
If you "lost" your virginity to someone and now regret it, would you go as far as to become a "born again virgin"? Some people (men and women) have made this choice, and some women have gone as far as to seek surgery to imitate or reattach their hymen.
*Click the link above for the story*
What do you think? If you "lost" your virginity to someone and now regret it, would you go as far as to become a "born again virgin"... more -
Virginity Loss Map
Apparently people worldwide are having sex for the first time at an average age of 17.3 years old, with just over a third (35%) say they were 16 or under when they lost their virginity.
It's based on the results from a 2005 survey by Durex that noticed gems like the fact that young people continue to have sex at an earlier age than previous generations: while the 25-34s lost it at 17.9, the 21-24 year olds were 17.5 and 16-20 year olds were just 16.3.
I actually expected it to be a little younger to be honest. Apparently people worldwide are having sex for the first time at an average age of 17.3 years old, with just over a third (35%) say th... more
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