How virginity enhances masculinity in contemporary Vietnam

This study examines the social and cultural
relationship between masculinity and virginity in
Hanoi, Vietnam. Taking a qualitative approach, I
conducted 20 in-depth interviews and four focus group
discussions with male and female students. This study
reveals that female virginity is a key cultural
concern among young educated men and women.
Traditionally, virginity was measured not only by an
intact hymen, but was also demonstrated by the
dignity, faith, and love of a woman. The study
suggests that there were two forms of male
expectation regarding female virginity. The male
group that highly valued virginity found it
impossible to accept female partners who were not
virgins. To protect their masculinity, these men
ended their relationships when this fact was
confessed to them. The second male group valued
virginity a bit less and these men were more able to
accept the fact that their partners virginity was lost such that they could forgive their female
partners but only if this loss resulted from a
physical accident that damaged the hymen or through
sexual coercion. Ultimately, this study found that
marrying a virgin helps men enhance their social
reputation and masculinity.

Autorentext

Cuong Manh La is a PhD Candidate at the Australian ResearchCentre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University,Australia. His current research project looks at sexualexpression among young, middle-class, married men in contemporaryVietnam. Earlier, Cuong earned a master degree in human sexualitystudies in San Francisco in 2005.

Klappentext

This study examines the social and culturalrelationship between masculinity and virginity inHanoi, Vietnam. Taking a qualitative approach, Iconducted 20 in-depth interviews and four focus groupdiscussions with male and female students. This studyreveals that female virginity is a key culturalconcern among young educated men and women.Traditionally, virginity was measured not only by anintact hymen, but was also demonstrated by thedignity, faith, and love of a woman. The studysuggests that there were two forms of maleexpectation regarding female virginity. The malegroup that highly valued virginity found itimpossible to accept female partners who were notvirgins. To protect their masculinity, these menended their relationships when this fact wasconfessed to them. The second male group valuedvirginity a bit less and these men were more able toaccept the fact that their partners' virginity was"lost" such that they could "forgive" their femalepartners-but only if this loss resulted from aphysical accident that damaged the hymen or throughsexual coercion. Ultimately, this study found thatmarrying a virgin helps men enhance their socialreputation and masculinity.