FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
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4.4.2 Virginity testing and issues of sexual violence
The practice of virginity testing in South Africa is still prevalent in lhe provinces of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape, is another form of culture \.Vhich violates the rights of women: especially girls ( Wadesango. Rem be & Chabaya. 2011 ). Participants indicated that they had gone through the virginity testing starting from 8 years old. Wadesango. Rembe a11d Chabaya (2011) further explain that girl children. ranging from the ages of IO to 18 years. are exposed to this practice.
particularly those living in rural areas. Participants also indicated that one is taught how to handle and keep yourself because the society believes that if you are not virgin you are going to teach the bad habits to other girls. Wadesango. Rem be and Chabaya (20 I 1 )also resonates that the justification for virginity testing includes encouraging girls to remain virgins. which is believed
will mm11111ze HIV/AIDS infection and teenage pregnancy. and is also done to control the sexuality of girls. The researcher had asked participants in a focus group discussion: What is virginity testing and why is it important?
P J states that:
Virginity testing is a custom that makes girls to know their statuses (PJ. 16 years old girl.
focus group interview).
BC concurs:
It is a custom that teaches girls ahem/ hem to keep their bodies not being played by boys (BC. 17 years old girl, focus group interview}
WN adds:
It is a custom that is done in rural areas where a girl is taught lo care her hody until she gets married ( WN. 16 years old girl. focus group interview}
P J elaborated further:
A girl is taught how to handle herse!f and you are told what you should do when you are doing sex (PJ. 16 years old girl, focus group interview)
WN echoed similar sentiments:
A girl knows how to keep herse(l( WN. 16 years old girl, focus group interview) BC completes the explanation:
It is ,,e,y important be,·uuse some e�f the girls become pregnant when they are young. No one will make you as a w!fe if you are not a vir,gin hecause in our culture a man is not allowed to man)' a girl who is not a v;,-gin ( BC. ]7 years old. focus group interview)
The study found that all participants understood why there was virginity testing and what it meant for them. It is evident £hat the older women in the community ,vanted to find out whether the girl's hymens are intact. The researcher asked the participants \Vhetlner they thought that virginity testing was a sexual abuse: their responses follow:
PJ:
BC:
II is a sexual ah use because those who check you, they touch your virginity i(they want to
see c/earZr and pour \Mier in your vagina. if they see that your virginity is gone they talk about you, telling your _fi-iends without your permission that ynu are not a virgin. And they say they must 1101 go with you. [(you don't .feel to be tes!ed on that day maybe you are menstruating, they force you. It is not good and is against your l1'ill. The girl is coerced to do this. You areforced to write your hoyfi·iend's name. ({you don ·t want to do so or saying you don't have, they search your hoyfi·iend 's name and tell you that they know. When !her want vow· boi,f,·iend's name. thev ask fi·om vow· doses/ fi·iend (P.1. - . - · .. . - . 16
years old girl in focus group).
it is a sexual abuse and I critici:::e virginity testing because they touch your virginity. I am a girl and I have got.feelings. vVhen they do this they put theirfingers inside the virgini(\'.
When they entering their fingers I feel sexual(v active sometimes I end up ejaculating.
They also tell boys that you are not a virgh1. You knoll' boys they come in numbers ifJ1011
are 1101 a virgin and you hecome a playground <�fall boys (BC 17 years old girl).
WN:
It is a sexual abuse because at home you are beingfiJrced to go there and it is not your own will. It is 11011he on�v one person who is checking at your virxinity. all of them come.
ff they find that ii is no! good. the whole community 11'ill knmr about this and they 11·ill call you ll'ith bad names like isifebe (a woman who likes man) ( WN. l 6 years old girl in a focus group)
PJ supports this type of culture and she said:
Although sometimes it is abusive. this custom must continue maybe 1he diseases might decrease. fl protects the young girls to become pregnant al an early stage. ft is V<.'1'}' nice to meet 01her virgins performing rogelher (PJ. 16 years old girl in a focus group).
WN adds to \Vhat PJ has said:
To add this custom must continue because nowadays there are diseases. You will keep yourself until you get married(WN. 16 years old giTI in a focus group.)
BC contrasts with two of the above participants and said that:
This custom must not continue because girls interact with boys even [l they are tested.
There is no truth because some other girls ll'ho are tested are not virgins. they use the medicines bo11ghtfi·o111 pharmacies to make their virgins lo recover or to.fill their virgins.
There is a discrimination r?f those ,rho or not rirgin. you are called by names as idikazi.
ishalambombo. ishaxaw, and isffebe (all these 1rnrds undermine those 1d10 are not 1·irgins. hurting names) (BC. I' 7 years old girl in a focus group).
Emerging from the participants· responses. it is evident that virginity testing is abusive since it is compulsory. They force girls to do this because they believe that it is the culture of society.
Testers do not consider the rights of the child or girl because they just coerce the girl, even if she is menstruating. It is clear that girls do not Jiike the way virginity testing is done because it is not voluntary but seems mandatory. Although it is abusive. there are some participants ,vho say it must continue because it reduces diseases and pregnancy. One of the participants said it must be stopped since girls are being called by hurtfo I names. Those whose virgins are broken are being called idikazi and many more.