This book is a social critique of the cultural taboo of the female virginity in the Middle East. It highlights the unobtainability of this cultural myth and its multilevel destructive influences on various aspects of social life.

Autorentext
David Ghanim is a senior research fellow at Department of Philosophy, Linguistics, and Theory of Science, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Inhalt
Contents Preface Introduction 1. Incarcerating Honor 2. Virginity Cult 3. Internalizing Shame 4. Hymen Mystique 5. Virginity Hypocrisy 6. Virginity and Body Discourse 7. Virginity and Body Mutilation 8. Virginity and Asexuality 9. Virginity and Premarital Intimacy 10. Ritual of Defloration 11. Rewarding Virginity Conclusion Selected Bibliography Index