Good catch!. Historically? This one is because of the patriarchy!

Huh? Isn't that directly against what I was saying earlier?

Sort of. These things are connected. "Patriarchy" refers primarily to familial lineage being determined by the male family line. In the majority of societies (European, most Asian countries, etc.) the continuation of the family line was determined entirely by male descendants as women became part of the family they were married into.

Thus it was very important to a family to have heirs from a male child, socially and economically. Lack of birth control meant that a non-virgin woman could possibly be pregnant from another man and thus be unable to continue the line from that child. Virginity (and also the stigma against female adultery) was thus valued as a method to insure any children were assuredly able to continue the bloodline.

Since such things are much less important in American society today (at least comparatively speaking) virginity is likewise devalued, especially among men (who stand to gain from women being more likely to engage in sexual activity).

This behavior did, however, also serve as protection for women. The value of having an heir from a specific woman and maintaining that bond helped insure her both a living place and a mate who would provide for their children. Was it a perfect system? Heck no.

The world was very different. Women didn't have education and most occupations required physical instead of mental skills. They simply could not have survived without a man to support them. I'm glad this is changing but that was the reality of the times. Thus the value on virginity, and the continuation of the bloodline, gave women security (to an extent and at the cost of personal liberty). Considering the potential for violence against women throughout history any sort of protection was considered better to, well, death.

So perhaps I should have, at the risk of making my posts even longer, have added that the origin of the value of virginity has roots in both male and female interests. I was more interested in the counterpoint so I left that part out.

The real feminism changes are still ongoing and the world isn't accepting the good changes with open arms. So of course you see the same negative behavior throughout the world because the attitudes and mentality is the same.

Sometimes it's hard to remember that just because I don't believe it that doesn't mean that other guys don't. Gotta avoid defending the people I don't agree with while trying to defend myself, I guess. Categories can be so inconvenient!

Jacquesne