Virgins: A Cultural History
by Anke Bernau
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Description
In the Middle Ages it was believed that only a virgin could charm a unicorn out of hiding; but far from being a quaint, anachronistic concept, virginity remains a central value in Western culture. Typing "virgin" into Google results in more than one million hits and includes everything from the Anti-Nicene Fathers to advertisements for free teen virgins, displaying a range of current cultural preoccupations with virginity. This lively, wide-ranging examination of a phenomenon that has show more touched many aspects of our culture names different archetypes and facets of the concept of virginity. Examples include the Medical Virgin—exploring what exactly virginity is and how to reliably identify o≠ the Religious Virgin—from the Madonna to the American Christian Right’s insistence on sexual abstinence before marria≥ the Popular Virgin of Gothic fiction and modern day horror films; the Political Virgin—virginity’s intimate connection with money and power; and the Monstrous Virgin, as embodiment of what is ultimately unknowable and of violence, excess, and death. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This is a readable overview of the "history" of the place of virginity as a physical condition as a well as a moral and religious state of being from medieval times to the present.
It examines briefly how there can never be an agreement of what constitutes virginity in terms of sexual experience as it appears that there are as many opinions as there are options for virginal states.
Taken in a broader context in certain historical periods in the UK and Europe, it becomes an economic asset in the great succession and inheritance debate - yet it is a condition and a price that is only ever attached to women.
Anyone pursuing gender studies or women's studies would be well advised to add this text to their reading lists.
It examines briefly how there can never be an agreement of what constitutes virginity in terms of sexual experience as it appears that there are as many opinions as there are options for virginal states.
Taken in a broader context in certain historical periods in the UK and Europe, it becomes an economic asset in the great succession and inheritance debate - yet it is a condition and a price that is only ever attached to women.
Anyone pursuing gender studies or women's studies would be well advised to add this text to their reading lists.
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LQW Research Reading List
75 works; 1 member
Author Information
4 Works 72 Members
Anke Bernau has taught at the University of Cardiff and currently teaches medieval literature at the University of Manchester.
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2007
- Dedication
- for Silke
- First words
- Although people hesitate initially when asked how one can tell whether a woman is a virgin or not, they usually end up remembering the hymen with a relieved smile.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It is worth remembering for the future that, while virginity can mean many things, those meanings have never been innocent
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Sociology, Sexuality and Gender Studies, General Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality
- DDC/MDS
- 306.732082 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Social Behavior - Dating, Marriage, Divorce Sexual relations General institutions Celibacy
- LCC
- GN484.47 .B47 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Anthropology Anthropology Ethnology. Social and cultural anthropology Cultural traits, customs, and institutions
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 48
- Popularity
- 626,023
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.67)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
