Attitudes of Lebanese University Students Towards Surgical Hymen Reconstruction

Abstract

Many cultural and religious beliefs place virginity at a high level of social significance, in that women who lose their virginity before marriage may face humiliation, ostracism, divorce, and extreme violence. This led to an increase in the demand for virginity restoration through surgical hymen reconstruction among these cultures. However, data regarding the acceptance of hymenoplasty in societies that consider sexuality a taboo are scarce. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the effects of gender and religion on sexual attitudes towards hymenoplasty, premarital sex, and virginity in a sample of 600 Lebanese university students. Our findings showed that approval of hymenoplasty was low among participants regardless of gender (25.7 % men vs. 19.1 % women) and religious affiliations (22.5 % Muslims vs. 22.3 % Christians). Arguments for rejection were rooted in moral ethics and personal convictions: "form of deceiving and cheating" (80.7 %) and "betrayal of honesty in the relationship" (80.4 %). Reasons for acceptance included: personal belief in "women's rights, autonomy, and freedom" (72.2 %) and "physical harm and death" (63.5 %).Male participants were more likely to approve premarital coital sex than females (61.0 vs. 27.3 %). Muslims were also more likely to reject marrying a non-virgin than Christians (39.9 vs. 18.0 %). Female participants expressed more tolerance towards marrying a non-virgin male partner (78.3 vs. 57.3 %). Low acceptance of hymenoplasty among Lebanese university students was found to be related to moral ethics and personal convictions independently from gender and religious affiliation. Differences in sexual attitudes towards premarital coital sex and virginity, however, were more significantly influenced by culture and religion.

A study on association of premarital attitude toward intact hymen in new grooms: A cross-sectional study

“…In other words, in most studies, there has been an inverse relationship between religiosity and the liberal sexual attitude. [ 2 19 20 ] Of course, proving the causal relationship is not possible due to the nature of cross-sectional studies. Because religious people may be involved in such relationships, they will consider themselves nonreligious due to their revaluation.…”

“…According to the obtained results, approximately 90% of the samples are required virginity for girls until marriage, and about 82% of them were introduced as the most valuable asset of a girl. In this regard, in Lebanon, approximately 77%,[ 19 ] in Turkey 76%,[ 21 ] in Tehran 43%[ 12 ] of the men have been considered the virginity of the spouse necessary for the decision making to marriage. The existence of such a conservative view in new grooms in Kerman refers to the roots of sexual taboos and its focus on the physical state of virginity.…”

Hymen reconstruction as pragmatic empowerment? Results of a qualitative study from Tunisia

“…In fact, a literature search (in MedLine, Google Scholar, and Sociological abstracts, using an expansive list of search terms for HR, up to summer 2014) uncovered only seven empirical studies (Ahmadi 2014, Awwad et al 2013, Zeyneloğlu et al 2013, Essén et al 2010, Tschudin et al 2013, Van Moorst et al 2012, Juth et al 2013, Wild et al 2010. A few others have recently been published (Steinmueller & Tan 2014;Loeber 2015).…”

Virginity Testing Beyond a Medical Examination

“…Virginity testing for cultural reasons has been declared as sexual violence against women by the World Health Organization ( Zeyneloğlu, Kısa, & Yılmaz, 2013 ) and has been criticized as a patriarchal belief, gender inequality, and violent behavior against women ( Christianson & Eriksson, 2011 ; Juth, & Lynöe, 2015 ; Awwad et al, 2013 ). Nevertheless, the use of virginity testing to assess a woman’s sexual activity is growing in the 21 st century ( Wells, 2006 ); it is testing that, regardless of its result, causes harm to women ( Hedjazi, Zarenezhad, Shaykh Azadi, & Valie, 2012 ).…”

“…Otherwise, it may be rupture accidentally by tampon use or through some exercise ( Hegazi & Rukban, 2012 ) Acts of violence against women with damaged hymens prior to marriage is a significant matter that has been criticized by various international forums in many Mediterranean and Asian countries ( Zeyneloğlu, Kısa, & Yılmaz, 2013 ; Cook & Dickens, 2009 ; Ahmadi, 2015 ), especially violence that leads to “honor killings.” These murders are not limited to Mediterranean countries, but are also reported from Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Pakistan, and Sweden ( Zeyneloğlu, Kısa, & Yılmaz, 2013 ; Cook & Dickens, 2009 ). The increased demand for hymen repair surgery to prevent personal and social devastation as a direct result of loss of virginity has given the consequences of virginity testing a new dimension ( Awwad et al, 2013 ).…”