Mumbai: Sex has for long been a rarely discussed topic in Indian society but virginity has always been the subject of a heated debate whenever the taboo subject does come up and especially when it’s about finding a partner for life.
Even as virginity is taken seriously, men are mostly exempted from social scrutiny as women continue to be judged on the basis of them being a virgin or not, as men are come up with bizarre ways to judge if a woman is virgin or not. But as times change, there are few who differ and actually say that they would prefer a non-virgin as a sexual partner.
These men mentioned that it was strange how having multiple sexual partners was considered something to be ashamed of. They also said that losing one’s virginity doesn’t make a girl inferior to anyone, and that most boys actually like non-virgin girls as partners.
One of them mentioned that having sex required much less effort and was more satisfying. Another said that having sex can be a painful experience for a girl who’s virgin as well as her partner and that it could take days until both can actually enjoy intercourse.
While virginity is considered as a big deal when the question of marriage pops up, one said that he doesn’t understand all the fuss around it and said that if people want to get married, being a virgin or not has no effect on their dedication and commitment level in a relationship.
Going a step ahead and hitting out at the mentality in Indian society, one of the volunteers said that men and women shouldn’t be judged on their virginity and that those who are open about being a non-virgin are actually honest, and sex can also be more comfortable and pleasure giving if the physical aspect is considered.
The situation remains grave in India where women are subjected to virginity tests by local khap panchayats in Haryana and by their in-laws or to be husbands in other parts of India. In other parts of the world too losing one's virginity without marriage follows a social stigma.
All men interviewed mentioned that people need not be ashamed of losing their virginity irrespective of their gender. This comes as a ray of hope in a society where hypocrisy and prejudice around losing virginity and pre-marital sex continues.
