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Unravelling The Stupidity Of The Virginity Construct
The myth of “losing your virginity” is just that, a falsehood based on an arbitrary construct
Trigger Warning: Mention of rape
Introduction
English movies have been shaming virgins for comedic effect since decades together. US high school dramas and Hollywood movies are particularly notorious for this. There’s after all, more than a dozen virginity tropes out there, isn’t it?
In the virgin-shaming trope in particular, virginity is seen as something that is “shameful, immature, and something a character needs to get over as soon as possible.”
“Due to a Double Standard that emphasizes male promiscuity, this trope more commonly applies to males than females. Virginity is seen as something silly that men need to get past as soon as possible, while it is often shown as desirable in women. This trope is not gender-restricted, however. Female characters are shamed in this way occasionally, especially in high school settings.”
I was recently binging some old classics on OTT during these Dussehra holidays and stumbled upon ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’, a movie that revolves around *spoiler alert* making fun of the protagonist for his virginity and trying to get him to lose it. Nothing like rolling in unending fits of laughter on the…
