Virgin, by Hanne Blank
Jun. 18th, 2007 10:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
keilexandraVirgin: The Untouched History
by Hanne Blank
290 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Nonfiction/Historical
Many thanks torachelmanija for the recommendation! This was absolutely engrossing and eye-opening volume. I consider myself a feminist, but I'd never really thought about the impact of virginity on world history and culture. From the beginnings of K-strategist women to continuing struggles with virginity and sexuality today, the book was useful to me on both a creative level (as I write fantasy concerning a matriarchal society) and a "real life" level (because even though I live in a decidedly liberal state, I've still experienced the insistent siren call of abstinence programs). Personally, I subscribe to the abstinence-unless-in-committed-relationship pledge.
Blank's writing style is scholarly and formal, but every chapter is insightful. I only wish it touched more on current issues like FGM (female genital mutilation) and honor crimes (common in the Middle East, torturing or killing women for losing their virginity before marriage). Although I can understand why she chose to focus more on virgin history (pun not intended), the book reads as feminist no matter what. That's another con: while an excellent resource, this book is unlikely to convert many conservatives.
I didn't mark up a lot of passages, as I'm loath to dog-ear too much (oh how I long for you, Book Darts). But I love the section on Title V Section 510(b), a rider attached to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Section 510(b) is basically funding for abstinence programs, at the astonishing level of $273 million in fiscal year 2005 (p.241). Note that abstinence, though practically synonymous with premarital virginity, is never referred to as such in current legislation. Furthermore, Blank cites data from countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland to show that children born out of wedlock are not necessarily doomed. 70% of Swedish cohabiting couples marry within five years after having a child together (p.242).
Virgin is recommended to anyone with an open mind, especially feminists and supporters of sexual equality (re: homo-, bi-, and transsexuals). Certainly for people like me, who haven't done much research into the subject, it's a must-read. I wish I could own a personal copy, for reference, but my budget isn't up to hardcover-buying level and this being a nonfiction book, it may not be released in paperback. Alas!
(Oh, and there's a great selected bibliography in the back, for further reading.)
by Hanne Blank
290 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Nonfiction/Historical
Many thanks to
rachelmanija for the recommendation! This was absolutely engrossing and eye-opening volume. I consider myself a feminist, but I'd never really thought about the impact of virginity on world history and culture. From the beginnings of K-strategist women to continuing struggles with virginity and sexuality today, the book was useful to me on both a creative level (as I write fantasy concerning a matriarchal society) and a "real life" level (because even though I live in a decidedly liberal state, I've still experienced the insistent siren call of abstinence programs). Personally, I subscribe to the abstinence-unless-in-committed-relationship pledge.Blank's writing style is scholarly and formal, but every chapter is insightful. I only wish it touched more on current issues like FGM (female genital mutilation) and honor crimes (common in the Middle East, torturing or killing women for losing their virginity before marriage). Although I can understand why she chose to focus more on virgin history (pun not intended), the book reads as feminist no matter what. That's another con: while an excellent resource, this book is unlikely to convert many conservatives.
I didn't mark up a lot of passages, as I'm loath to dog-ear too much (oh how I long for you, Book Darts). But I love the section on Title V Section 510(b), a rider attached to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Section 510(b) is basically funding for abstinence programs, at the astonishing level of $273 million in fiscal year 2005 (p.241). Note that abstinence, though practically synonymous with premarital virginity, is never referred to as such in current legislation. Furthermore, Blank cites data from countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland to show that children born out of wedlock are not necessarily doomed. 70% of Swedish cohabiting couples marry within five years after having a child together (p.242).
Virgin is recommended to anyone with an open mind, especially feminists and supporters of sexual equality (re: homo-, bi-, and transsexuals). Certainly for people like me, who haven't done much research into the subject, it's a must-read. I wish I could own a personal copy, for reference, but my budget isn't up to hardcover-buying level and this being a nonfiction book, it may not be released in paperback. Alas!
(Oh, and there's a great selected bibliography in the back, for further reading.)
