Why is Talking about Celibacy and Virginity Relevant and Important

Breaking Stigmas 

There are many stigmas that follow the concept of virginity that seem to be rooted in religion.

The most popular is displayed through the character trope used in film and television, of the virgin girl being undersirable. Usually, undesirable because of her conservative style of clothing or her being quiet and keeping to herself. Through the film, the girl is typically made over by someone of higher social status, where her clothes are more revealing, makeup heavier and attitude care free. Now she is deemed as desirable and is 'capble' of losing her virginity. This particular stigma surrounding girls is poor representation for the self-image and self-esteem. 

Common stigmas surrounding women who have lost their virginity can also be potentially dangerous to a persons self-image and self-esteem, seemingly roote din religion. There is the preconceived notion that women and girls who chose to rid of thier virgin status are slutty, easy, and not of high worth. There is the idea that when a woman is no longer a virgin, she looses her purity. With the loss of purity comes the loss of worth. 

Another stigma surrounding virginity is how men are affected. There is a huge double standard when it comes to how women/girls are treated in comparison to men/boys. When men lose thier virginity it is celebrated like a rite of passage, and they have now captured manhood. Women are not celebrated the same. 

Proper Education 

Talking about virginity and loss of virginity and how to have safe, consensual sex for the first time is very important. The school education system is well known for the lack of sexual health taught in schools. As I recollect, in school we were taught about STDs and STIs, how to prevent catching them, how to put on a condom, and what other kinds of birth control are available. Never were we taught about consent, how to make suer your partner(s) are comfortable throughout the experience (emotionally and physically), and the importance of aftercare. With proper education there may be a reduction in bad first experiences, negative feelings after the experience and a good realtionship with sex itself which is very important. 

A healthy approach to intimacy and pleasure is not only important in relationships but also for personal gain. 

Feelings of Shame 

As we have concluded, virginity through a religious lens can have negative affects on women. One of those negative effects that is rooted in religion is feelings of shame. Shame can come from choosing to remain a virgin and potentially not fitting in with peers, or Western society in general.

Not only can feelings of shame come from reminding a virgin, but also from losing it when not personally ready but because feelings of obliagtion. Having sex for the first time is a big thing, not only for the body but also the mind. When the act is done without being personally ready or under proper circumstances, feelings of guilt and shame may follow.